its a honda, its supposed to tick.
esp when you start using bigger cams.
on my ls with 403s and springs/retainers, i think we went to 12lbs on the caps.

your head is not milled, and you have the correct pistons rods and crank right?

if you are actually tapping, re check to make sure your cam gear is set to 0.
we took my 403's 6 degrees either way wihout trbl, what grind are you running?