Man....ticking no ticking..... I understand ticking as surface contact would be normal but when it becomes so quiet or very loud there must be a strain on valve, springs, push rod, lifter surface, and or cam surface? How much stretch or compression of the metal components takes place? My grandfather had a 216 and he never adjusted the valves (his own admission) and he must have put 200K and sold it running when he got to old to drive. He never went over 45MPH!