The valve train is completely stock. I checked a few pushrods the last time I had the valve cover off and made sure they were straight. I'm going to check all of them next time.
If it was a problem with the flex plate, wouldn't the tick be a lot faster? When I use my stethoscope I can hear it spinning but there's no ticking. I'll pull the inspection cover off tomorrow just for fun.
Keep the replies coming. I want to make a list of things to check when I pull the valve covers off again.
To help with arcing you should put protective boots around the wires at the plug, this fixed my wire arcing, and also make sure the wires are routed seperate from each other, not all bunched together, even Taylors will arc if they are bunched. Just some ideas
I had a tick coming from my car when I had a sparkplug unseat itself...i was looking all over for the source and just happend to glance at the plug and see it rocking back and forth throught the cycles...tightened it up...click was gone.
Try relieving the fuel pressure than disconnecting the pump.
Disconnect the igniton and take the spark plugs out and have a friend crank it over and listen if the tick is there when the motor is not runing.