Picked up this 95 Dodge Ram 2500 with a v10. Engine runs great no miss no engine light on nothing. Rpms stay steady but I’m getting a ticking noise from the engine bay. Before I got it the PO blew the head gasket on it and replaced it properly but the heads say out of the truck for 2 weeks before putting them back on. And I know that the job was done correctly. So my question is is it possible that the heads are still a little dry. Truck sat for a month or so before I got. After the head gasket job. Also there was no tick before head gasket replacement

 

If you have put more than a couple miles on it, should be fully lubed by now.

That said..... My V-10 rattles at startup, and occasionally when it holds a gear too long. It has always done it since I bought it 4 years ago. It hasn't gotten any worse, hasn't gotten any better. I just ignore it for now. Someday, if I am feeling froggy, I might swap out the lifters, but, I am just not in a hurry to do that.

An exhaust leak sounds a lot like a weak lifter to though..... So, eliminate that possibility first.

 

haven’t drove it much but it’s due for an oil change. It’s not an exhaust leak

 

Might try using a high mileage oil for a while, see if it will clean things out a bit.

 

I checked again today w stethoscope and heard nothing at cover intake or bottom end. I did notice that my water pump is leaking and the fan does not stop w engine is shut off. Could a bad timing chain and fan clutch cause this ticking noise or am I over thinking this

 

Just about anything can cause it... Just need to isolate where the noise is actually coming from. Yeah, that can be fun.