Are they gear drive cams? Those will be noisier but no chain and tensioner to worry about.

 

precisely, no one has any idea what it is

 

If it’s there when the motor is cold, and If it goes away after a bit of time, doesn’t that mean it’s a lifter not coming up? I had a similar, but louder noise on my M8, it was there when started cold, and went away after about 20 seconds. Replaced the lifters with S&S lifters when I did the torque cam...no more noise like that.

 

I replaced the lifters with meling lifter and same issue, i'll grab the S&S lifters and try again, i think it may have to do with the pushrods as well, maybe one is bent

 

An update:

cold started it today, and can hear the ticking through the left exhuast pipe, can only assume at this point that it's the exhaust valve either burned or stuck on cold start

 

Just did compression test
front 120psi hot
rear 95psi hot

 

How have you made out with your issue?

 

Test was not done right; I would expect to see 180-185. Even so, the difference between front and rear is troublesome.

 

It's the gauge he's using. Bet it doesn't have a shrader valve in the end of the fitting that goes in the head. The junk you buy at harbor freight, several of them actually, are like that. One is a Pittsburgh. Use to have one. There's reviews and videos all over about them. They add significantly to the volume you're testing. They're fine for telling if one cylinder is worse but junk if you want to know your actual compression. There is a methematical correction but don't ask me what it is. You have to know the volume of the hose is you're adding to the combustion chamber volume.
I made a leakdown tester out of mine with a few spare parts and bought a decent Actron compression tester. Read 65psi more on my Sporty.

 

Still betting the test procedure was not correct.