Are My Rockers Worn?

[jj big shoe]

I've had an annoying tick-tick-tick for quite a while after installing the "new" engine, porting the heads and installing new lifters, springs and a reground cam. I figured it was the lifters so I resurfaced the originals and put them in. No change. This weekend I tried putting a spacer in the lifter body to increase preload following MY1PATHs advice and Youtube vid, but there was no change.

I did notice there's some side-to-side play on the rocker arm when the valves are closed (less pressure from the valve stem and the lifter). There's no slop or space between the rocker arms and where they contact the lifters or valve stems, but I can move the rockers a bit side-to-side along the shaft. I was wondering if this is a sign of wear or is it typical of the VG30 design or does this indicate my rockers and/or rocker shafts are worn?

[MY1PATH]

I left a longer note In your PM...

but thinking into it more sinc you asked;

side to side ok, there is not much holding the rocker centered.

 

angular, as in you can move it from 90* or wigle it up and down on the shaft... that may not be so good.