I have a really bad ticking noise coming from one lifter.........is it possible to remove the intake manifold and the knock sensor plate (underneath the manifold)....to get a look at the cam lobes?

I've narrowed the sound coming from a lifter associated with the #5 and/or #7 cylinder area.

The engine is 5.3 liter LS series engine.

UPDATE:

Well, here is what I did.....I used a stethoscope on the engine and isolated the ticking noise.....it was coming from the rear of the passenger side cylinder head. I removed the cylinder head cover and found that I could compress the #7 intake lifter with my finger.....I could not compress any of the other lifters with my finger.

I ended up removing the cylinder head and removing the single lifter that I had compressed with my finger. I disassembled the lifter and found that the internal piston as well as its push rod seat had slight discoloration on them. The discoloration, I am assuming is coming from uneven wear within the lifter bore.

Here are some pictures: