coronetcustom

hello, my name is Marko, 35yrs, living in Finland. i got myself nice Dodge Coronet Custom 1971, maybe not really a collectible model, but pretty solid everyday ride. i´ve had it for 4 years now. never had a real problems with it. previous owner rebuilt the engine couple years prior selling. engine is 383 with 4barrel Carter AFB carburator, cam is similar to Magnum, better exhaust system and i already bought edelbrock 383 intake manifold, waiting for installation. lately my mopar experience has been clouded by ticking noise coming from engine. to my opinion the sound is coming from driver´s side, either under valve cover or exhaust system. ticking is most noticeble when driving 30-40mph, 3rd gear, lifting foot from pedal (for example getting ready to stop for traffic lights) and when revs go down, the ticking can be heard. it gets a little quieter and settles when on idle, but doesn´t go away. it´s consistent with revs. when accelerating or on high revs, i cannot hear any ticking. also, playing radio on normal listening volume muffles the sound, so it is not very loud. i think it might be a lifter problem or possibly exhaust leak. i know how to change exhaust gasket, but what should i do if it is a lifter problem? does this kind of ticking seem hazardous to the engine? i have removed the valve cover, rotated engine and i cannot find any noticeable gaps or looseness between rods and rocker arms. so, any suggestions? all help and advices will be appreciated. kind regards, t.Marko