Ticking noise from engine

I am looking at buying a 1997 Camaro from someone in my town. The car has a ticking noise coming from the engine and he said it doesn't seem like a knock or something like that and he thought it was the timing chain. He removed the timing chain and he said it still has the ticking noise. What could the noise be and also about how much would it cost me to have a mechanic repair it and reinstall and re-time the timing chain so the car will run again? Thanks in advance