So I took a few minutes this afternoon and went after the intake bolts on my orphan 5.3 onto which I had swapped an LS6 intake. From the multi-page list of torque specs for one of these motors I located the entry for the intake capscrews and, armed with my brand new, bought for the purpose, 1/4 drive torque wrench, proceeded to secure them according to the value listed. Two passes, spiral rotation, starting from the middle and working my way out from side to side, in sequence.
For those on the board who suggested the "calibrated wrist method" and after some consideration, I think that the wrist tight torque that i put on those screws at one point was a lot more than 89 inch pounds. Basically what was going on using the by hand method was that I would tighten up the screws, running the pattern to do so, but would return and find them willing to tighten up some more. This happened multiple times and was what caused me to finally back all the screws out to completely slack and go for the torque wrench. Since the screws are 10.9's they are a high value tensile strength item but the threads in the head are still aluminum after all. That makes them the week link.
While I do like the torque wrench that I acquired, I may still shell out for a Tekton. They seem to be generating a lot of positive and favorable comment by people who have used them and if nothing else it would be a good cross check against the one that I currently have which, by the buy, is NOT made in the P-ROC.
Nick
For those on the board who suggested the "calibrated wrist method" and after some consideration, I think that the wrist tight torque that i put on those screws at one point was a lot more than 89 inch pounds. Basically what was going on using the by hand method was that I would tighten up the screws, running the pattern to do so, but would return and find them willing to tighten up some more. This happened multiple times and was what caused me to finally back all the screws out to completely slack and go for the torque wrench. Since the screws are 10.9's they are a high value tensile strength item but the threads in the head are still aluminum after all. That makes them the week link.
While I do like the torque wrench that I acquired, I may still shell out for a Tekton. They seem to be generating a lot of positive and favorable comment by people who have used them and if nothing else it would be a good cross check against the one that I currently have which, by the buy, is NOT made in the P-ROC.
Nick