Before you pull apart everything, grab a piece of hose about 2 feet long. Place on end to your ear and move the other end around the area of the ticking. This will help determine if it is an exhaust leak or another problem.
You don't torque lifters, I think you mean rockers. Lifters are at the end of the pushrods and there is no tighening there. Rockers should be torqued between 18-20 ft/lbs. There is also proper ways to do so.
Alum rocker
Stock stamped rockers