clicking noise on 1974 stingray

[jfpty5]

I have a 1974 Corvette with a 350 engine. It has sat for most of the winter and has developed a clicking noise. It sounds as if it is coming from inside the engine and gets louder as the rpms go rise. The weather was nice today, so I decided to take it out for a drive. When I got back, I noticed what appears to be oil dripping behind both of the front tires. I did not notice any drips underneath the engine itself. Any help or advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

[rpage]

the ticking could be lifters in your valve train, which sometimes happens if you let an engine sit, where you have hydraulic lifters that need to pump themselves back up. Maybe bearing in power steering pump, maybe piston slap. It is difficult to tell, depends on the tick, or knock, or whatever. Check your oil pressure for one, and your oil level in your engine. And fluid from behind the wheels, check for a brake line leak or a piston seal leak in brake calipers. Sounds like a brake fluid problem to me.

[jfpty5]

Thanks for your reply. I believe the noise is from the lifters from what I have read and heard from other people. If it is the lifters, is it a serious problem? Should I not drive it until it is fixed?