Tick from the engine

[Won]

Hi all,

when I stab the throttle sometimes there's a single tick coming from somewhere around the valves on the driver side of the engine. It doesn't do that all the time and the rpm needs to hit above 3k. It ticks as soon as i lift the gas. It's metalic and definitely not exhaust backfire. I don't know when the valves were adjusted although I think it's due because they've been getting noiser in the past few months. Could it be a broken headstud? I guess I'll find out when i open the valve covers, but is there any other guesses as to where the noise might be coming from? Thanks.

[captainrb]

bump..maybe its your timming chain ??

[Won]

I now believe it's the exhaust backfire, I'm running richer than before and on lift throttle there are more pops, some airy and others more metallic.