load based=load on the engine. like when you give it more throttle to go fast, tow, accelerate, go up a hill. with more load/throttle comes more exhaust pressure, which may leak out of a small opening in an exhaust manifold/header and cause a ticking sound.

 

I had the exact same problem and was also thinking it was the valves, until I crawled underneath and found the lower rear stud had broken off. All I had to do was replace the stud and not the manifold as it was finger loose. Fixed the ticking noise and now she sounds great.

 

Hmm well mine does it when it idles low I can hear it, and then again when I am driving next to concrete walls etc.

 

that might be lifter/valve tick. does it get louder with more throttle?

 

I think i have this same noise.... would it cause the truck to throw codes like p0135 and p0158, which i believe are O2 codes.

 

hmm I have this and I just started getting a vibration around 4k and it is load based. if it wasnt dark out and pouring Id go crawl under it now and take a gander.

 

i cant believ it cost you that much to fix because I had the same problem I was actually missing an exhaust manifold bolt causing the tick which I thought was the HEMI tick but it cost me about 50 bucks to have it fixed and that was with a new gasget and bolt plus labor so you got ripped of my friend but glad the tick is gone