Torque specs

[SuperHawk]

I want to do a valve adjustment on my '64 Champ V8 pickup. Normally I do this cold, to avoid the mess. This time I'll get the engine to operating temperature, then pull the rocker arm covers and adjust the valves with the engine hot, but not running.

Once the rocker arm covers are off, and before I do the adjustment, however, I want to re-torque the heads.

Sooo, here's the question: Do I need to adjust or alter the torque specified in the shop manual if I do it with a warm (or hot) engine, or just stay with the 55 to 65 pounds as advised in the shop manual?

Thanks,
Larry

[Tom Bredehoft]

Stay with the Shop Manual. You probably will get some screws that need tightening, and some that don't Do this before you adjust the rockers.

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Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
....On the road, again....
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[Warren Webb]

To be on the safe side I would torque the bolts to the low side of the recommendation-55 ft/lbs. While helping a friend assemble his engine he broke a couple of head bolts at 65 ft/lbs. Now perhaps the wrench wasnt calibrated but the bolts are over 45+ years old and many other factors could cause this. Just my opinion. I havent done many engines myself so take this with a grain of salt. Perhaps those who have more experience in this can chime in.

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[blackhawk]

quote:Originally posted by Warren Webb

To be on the safe side I would torque the bolts to the low side of the recommendation-55 ft/lbs. While helping a friend assemble his engine he broke a couple of head bolts at 65 ft/lbs. Now perhaps the wrench wasnt calibrated but the bolts are over 45+ years old and many other factors could cause this. Just my opinion. I havent done many engines myself so take this with a grain of salt. Perhaps those who have more experience in this can chime in.

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

If my memory serves me right, those bolts can stretch too. When torquing those head bolts, if you aren't quite getting to the specified torque and you think you should be by now, stop, back the bolt out and compare it to others for sign that the distance between the threads is increasing. I remember this happening on my '61 Champ OHV6, but I am a bit reluctant to mention it here because that was years ago and my memory is not the best. Nonetheless, I figure it is better to throw the possibility out there for you to consider than keep quiet because I may not be remembering the details correctly. ~Dale