I was taking the head off my car the other day because I broke a timing belt/bent valves. Anyway, The head was sticking, and didn't want to come loose. When I pulled, it jerked upward and most of the cam followers fell to the floor. I visually checked out the wear on the followers and on the cam lobes, and didn't really notice any signifigant wear patterns on either. The engine has about 107,000 mi. What would be the odds of me being able to put the followers back in, but NOT in the same order they came out?

 

It doesn't sound like you have much of a choice. If it's of any comfort, you are definitely not the first person to do this.

 

You don't have to put them back in the same order. It is nice if you can, but not necessary by any means. Just make sure the followers are nice and stiff, you shouldn't be able to push in the metal button in the middle.

 

I removed the cam shaft section to pull the head and half of what I would call the lifters fell out, they seem to be ok but are not in the same locations anymore are these what you refer to as cam followers?

Thanks

 

Yes, it is technically a "cam follower" and not a lifter. A "lifter" rides on a cam and a push rod sits in it, which drives your rocker arms to open and close valves on a different design of engine.