Exhaust Manifold Gaskets/Lifter Tick

[JPVortex]

Ok update, something is going really wrong.

So I put the oil pan in and went to go get all the bolts started. For some reason, one of the oil pan to bell housing bolt holes is not lining up at all... Like it's over a quarter inch from lining up, and I can't understand why. It was just enough to get the bolt started and it cross threaded. I stopped once it hung up but it was too late. I pulled the pan back off and everything looks fine(minus that one hole) but why the hell is it not lining up?! All the other bolts line up fine, and I didn't have this problem at all the last time I did this.

 

[JPVortex]

Not quite sure what happened yesterday, but I tapped the hole on the oil pan that got messed up and tried again today, everything went in smoothly. Waiting for RTV to set for a bit now before I fill with oil. Probably not going to give it 24 hours at all, I used such a small amount on the 4 corners by the timing cover and rear main. Probably going to give it 3-4 hours.

 

[JPVortex]

O-ring job is done. Truck has similar oil pressure to before still and the tick is still there. The tick is slightly quieter though. So my thought is the original o-ring was bad, and it might've taken a lifter with it.

 

[JPVortex]

Hey y'all stupid question here, Want to make sure I have the right cylinder/lifter located as the one ticking. Question is, can I take the pushrod and rocker arm off cylinder 4 intake side, disconnect the plug wire and injector for cylinder 4 and do a test fire to see if the tick goes away? I just don't want anything to go wrong lol. I don't think the cam would possibly be able to shoot the lifter out right? Because it's being held in by the lifter tray...

 

[JPVortex]

Well folks I think the lifter tick is advancing even further. Code is now popping up for a P0322, knock sensor code. Also seems to have a slight stumble/miss to it at idle. Quite unfortunate really. It's my only vehicle and I just accepted a job with a 40 minute one way drive, so it definitely has me freaked out for sure.