The solution washes away the lubricant in the bearing

 

Ah. I see.

 

I had to take a break from fixing the car, but I finally installed the new water pump today. It did not fix the tapping/ticking noise, and the tensioner also ratcheted, so I need to pull off the timing cover to reset it.
I have no idea what else it could be. The only thing I didn't check during the rebuild were the balance shafts, though I don't think the ticking sound is fast enough. Is it worth it just to pull the engine out again?

 

If you’re gonna pull the front cover and the valve cover to fix that balance shaft tensioner inspect all the fasteners check torque on the camshaft bolts check the guide bolts and ensure the timing chain tensioner is deployed.

 

Sounds good, thanks for the advice. I will check over everything while I have the covers off

 

I pulled the timing cover off today, and everything looks good. Good tension on the main chain, and I pulled off the balance shaft tensioner and reset it.
I was looking at the exhaust manifold again, and I noticed that the gasket didn't look right. It looks like I bought GM #12622668 rather than 12589453. I attached a picture from earlier when I installed the manifolds. Looks like the one I bought was for CA. Are they interchangeable, or could the tapping be an exhaust leak from this?
Also, is it safe to reuse the timing gasket? I basically have 0 miles on it. If not I have one laying around I could replace it with

 

Change that exhaust gasket and yes you can reuse the front cover gasket. Double check that exhaust manifold for cracks, looks like one is there between 2 and 3 cylinders

 

That black on the manifold is either from a crack or extreme over heating.

 

What are the empty bolt holes and little square port holes that are visible on that manifold gasket ?
Wrong gasket ? Or right gasket upside down ?

 

I think the extra holes are for a different engine with EGR stuff.