Checking Timing??

[HotRoddin]

Originally posted by Nixon1
I hear a tapping/ticking noise.

If you're talking about idling, its not pinging your hearing. Sounds like a stuck lifter or to much clearence on a rocker or an exhaust leak to me. In fact if you have a rocker that has backed off so far that its clicking, then that could explain the poor running too.
If you have an engine stethescope you should be able to pin point it fairly easily.