So I'm removing the head off a 2.4i 5 and when I flipped the head over after removing from the block all the buckets fell out. I don't know which respective bucket goes to which valve. They are numbered differently. There's about 6 different numbers. 1602,1604,1606,1608,1610 and 1612. Does this mean they are all different thicknesses? All intake valves look the same just as exhaust. How do I match these up now? Am I in a world of S--t?

 

Yep, they are different thicknesses. There is a special tool to hold the cam on so you can measure the valve clearance and then calculate what size you need.

 

So with 6 different thicknesses they set from factory? So I would have to somehow hold down cam in journals while turning the cam and measure the needed clearance for each bucket to cam?

 

Yours was set with 6 different thicknesses. There are a lot more than that available.

You'd have to go through the whole valve adjustment procedure, which I don't have with me. Hold the cam down with two lifters in place. Measure clearance. Compare to specs and calculate the size of the lifter you need. Since you have the lifters that came in there, you'd probably have to calculate the range that can be used for each valve, and then compare with what you have.

Or take the head to a machine shop with the lifters and have them do it.