Ticking, compression, funny idle

[Nixon1]

A few questions.. First, I've got this ticking noise...sounds like it's coming from the right bank...I'd guess cylinder #8. Why? Cylinder #8, last I checked, was down to 125 on compression...all others are 155-160. It's a click/tick noise... Comes and goes. I'm thinking I've got valve problems....but what else could it be/what's it sound like to you guys? Also..my idle is a little on the strange side. Sometimes it's completely normal, other than a slight backfire every couple seconds.... But sometimes it gets 'lopey'....the rpms dont really bounce, maybe a maximum of 50 rpms...which I'd attribute to electrical things with the gauge...as in, amp gauge bounces up and down a little and when I use something like power windows, the tach moves like 50 rpms even though the engine isn't actually doing that. So what could cause it to sound like I've got a mild cam sometimes, and then other times sound completely normal? I'm thinking that's related to the #8 cylinder issue too. Thanks guys.