it made the slightly tick that sounded like an exhaust leak, or a slightly lose rocker

 

Meh, that is what we are all here for. If you can trouble shoot it without tearing into your engine, why not?

 

this place is awesome. i soak up everything i can learn on here and use it literally every day and it makes life so much easier.

 

Jeremy, you didn't waste anyones time because you didn't know what your problem was.
Surely this is what this forum is all about, you have a problem, can't figure it out and ask for help.
All the replies were from people who had their ideas of what was the cause - all valid as many faults may have caused your engine to run like it did. Everyone wanted to help, and MD ran through a good logical faultfinding procedure.
We are all glad you found the problem,even though it wasn't any of the suggestions posted.
Last but not least thanks for posting that you had found the problem and can fix it.

 

its awesome because if something goes wrong with my car i can actually sit there and have valid thoughts about what could possibly going wrong and not just the blank stare LOL i work with my hands every day but was always afraid of the valve train until now.