Ticking sound, Help please

So I have this ticking sound from the car. I thought it was possibly a exhaust leak, so I tightened up all bolts as much as possible. The wild card is that the header collectors don't have gaskets at all. I don't know if that could cause this tick. When I wen't to adjust the rockers, all rockers were within spec, maybe .001-.002 looser on some, but they had not been re adjusted after break in and these locknuts on the cheap *** rockers I had were well, cheap.. Also I was using incorrect rockers (ford) instead of chevy. These are the magnum style heads with stud mount, not shaft. The rockers were also hitting the guide plates on the very bottom of the rockers, I have pictures also. I don't think it was a lifter because I did the old screw driver and or wood block on the valve cover and everything sounded the same. Please tell me what you think.

TO BE CLEAR: I ordered all new stuff from hughes, rockers, studs, guide plates.
http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/...a2VyIEFybXMgJiBBY2Nlc3Nvcmllcw==&partid=25405
[ame]http://youtu.be/YwOJsY8E92I[/ame]