I was disassembling my engine and got caught up and loosed all 4 bolts on the VTC sprocket and the lid popped up ( although it was not removed ). I then realized that I wasn't supposed to remove those bolts according to the manual and tightened them back with my fingers but have yet to torque them.

Did I mess something up by doing this? Or does the manual say not to do it because it's just not necessary?

 

Not supposed to take them apart. I remember someone I used to work with did that and couldn't get it back together properly. Good luck.

 

I noticed it had some small parts inside but they never came out since I only separated the lid slightly and I closed it back up pretty effortlessly.

 

There is no mystery with the internals of the VTC sprocket.
Just a rotating vane assembly, a spring with a plastic one end & a small steel rod on the other.
This steel rod (piston) stops the vane from rotating on cranking & is lifted away by oil pressure when the motor starts.
If the motor is a high mileage unit & had poor oil maintenance a varnish can build up inside so it is a good idea to pull them apart & clean up.

 

It has 85K miles but the motor inside is VERY clean. So you would say that I'm okay?

 

Yes you will be OK, but really there is no big deal about taking the cover plate off to have a look. It,s pretty simple inside with nothing you can do wrong.