Well, first off, i'd like to ask you if you are 100% sure it's not a header gasket leak (sometimes at the head side and sometimes at the h pipe side., it happens and very often it sounds like a tick. Stick your head in there, and use your hand to operate the throttle, and if you get close enough you can tell.
Second, what type of mods are done to the car, because if you are going to pull the intake, might as well put a better one on if the money is available. Along with a set of roller rockers.