What Stops A Car From Ticking. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

I have a 1997 Plymouth Voyager with 170,000 miles that ran great until today. My van ran hot and i noticed some ticking which sounded like the lifters were sticking. I then found that my water pump was bad. I replaced it, filled with anti freeze and changed the oil but the ticking is still there. Any ideas on how to stop it?