How can I feel 6lbs. of torque?

[BlueWing]

I don't have a torque wrench that will go down to 6 foot pounds one starts at 10 (3/8") and the other 30 (1/2"). The local parts place had a beam type but started at 5 foot pounds and was really a cheapo, I could move the pointer almost 10 pounds in each direction and it would stay at that reading.

So to torque down my valve covers how does anyone here do it without a quarter inch torque wrench? If they are marginally loose I can slightly re-tighten but if too tight I run the risk of leaking and maybe even warping the cover.

I am installing turbo covers on the bottom and originals on the top.

Terry

[john walker's workshop]

just tighten them with a small ratchet. nobody actually torques vc nuts with a torque wrench, do they?

[Dave Colangelo]

+1 for just doing it by hand. If I am thinking about the right bolts here they are perpendicular to the ground. You could always measure the distance from the center of the socket to the edge of the wrench then put an appropriate amount of weight on the end of the wrench and let gravity do the rest. Rounding to 9.81 M/SEC should do the trick.

Regards
Dave

[KTL]

6 lbs is a bogus torque for the valve covers. I think the spec book is wrong/a typo. I'm not saying 6 lbs is bad, as the covers still do seal. But I know for a fact that you can torque them to 18 lbs and the covers aren't worse off for it.

I will admit the nice thing about using 6 lbs is that if they do weep a little bit, you have no problem (in my opinion) snugging them down a little more.

[jmohn]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

just tighten them with a small ratchet. nobody actually torques vc nuts with a torque wrench, do they?

Exactly, just snug all the nuts up with your hand grasping the head of the ratchet, then go back and tighten each nut (hand grasping the head of the ratchet) another twist (or 2), feeling for consistancy, working from the center out and criss-crossing.

Works for me.

Jerry M
'78 SC

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by KTL

6 lbs is a bogus torque for the valve covers. I think the spec book is wrong/a typo. I'm not saying 6 lbs is bad, as the covers still do seal. But I know for a fact that you can torque them to 18 lbs and the covers aren't worse off for it.

This post is exactly correct. The 6 lb/ft is a typo, where I can't remember. Rocker cover hardware is 8mm, and that needs 18 lb/ft. We did at least two 911 valve adjustments (sometimes three) every day for more than twenty years at Red Line. Every cover (except the early ones that used cork gaskets) was torqued in a crossing pattern, beginning in the middle, to 18 lb/ft. 99% of those cars were repeat customers over many years, and often 100,000+ miles, and we never had one leak.

[Eagledriver]

I have to strongly disagree with torquing these nuts to 18 ft/lbs. I you were to use very thin gaskets like the chain housings or no gaskets (just sealant) like the cam housing to head joint, then 18 ft/lbs would be fine. With the thick gaskets we use on the valve covers you will warp the covers and then they will be difficult to seal the next time they are removed.

I just snug them by hand without a torque wrench. You can always tighten them a little more if they leak.

-Andy

[DaveE]

6 ft/lb = 72 in/lb. Buy a 3/8 torque wrench.

[BlueWing]

Thanks all,

With the amount of knowledge here still something like a torque value can still be discussed. Any way I did a search about valve covers and that is what made me think I needed to be accurate here due to the crush washer metallurgy. So I'll just choke up on the ratchet make 2 tightening rounds starting from the center and just be sure they are evenly tightened all around.



Sound good?

Terry

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by BlueWing

Thanks all,

With the amount of knowledge here still something like a torque value can still be discussed. Any way I did a search about valve covers and that is what made me think I needed to be accurate here due to the crush washer metallurgy. So I'll just choke up on the ratchet make 2 tightening rounds starting from the center and just be sure they are evenly tightened all around.

Somewhere along the way I posted about the aluminum washers used under rocker cover Nylok nuts. There are two types available; (1) shiny ones from Taiwan, or other similar places, that will begin to crush at about 13 - 15 lb/ft, and by 18 lb/ft will be crushed into your stud threads. (2) dull finish ones that are in factory kits, Wrightwood Racing kits, and are available through wholesalers with both pride and knowledge. #1 washers are crap. #2 washers are the same ones used on perimeter case studs, the very washers that are used under the Nyloks on 911 engine cases, the ones torqued to 18 lb/ft. Yeah, those washers. #2 will NOT crush at 18 lb/ft.

Oh, BTW, 18 lb/ft of torque for rocker cover nuts will not warp exhaust covers. Early aluminum covers were inherently weak, that's why the factory switched to the heavily ribbed lower covers (usually called Turbo covers) - to prevent warping.

[80-911SC]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

just tighten them with a small ratchet. nobody actually torques vc nuts with a torque wrench, do they?

I just did an oil change and valve adjustment on another Pelican's 86 and put in the red silicone gaskets and it was the third time in five years that I got to use my 1/4" torque wrench .. the times before that where when I torqued down my VC on the 911 SC ...

Maybe don't need it but I had the tool so I used it ....I know they are the right spec though..

Steve

[shbop]

Buy an inch/lb torque wrench and multiply by 12. Don't go with 18 ft/ lbs or you'll be milling your covers.

[RWebb]

this is not rocket science, people...

[rnln]

Harbor freight has torque wrench can go down to 7lbs for cheap. Also, I use silicon gasket. It forgives better than paper gasket, so you can be a little off the torque spec and still ok.

[nesslar]

Originally Posted by RWebb

this is not rocket science, people...

lol...well put, as usual. Split the diff., go to 10-12 and be happy; tighten in the right sequence/pattern. 6 ft-lbs. doesn't even require a wrench, does it??

[BlueWing]

Still some conflicting thoughts here. After reading my original search I thought of the aircooled motor expansion and contractions. lower valve covers with a pool of oil behind them threaded fastners acting like wicks, warp prone covers...........

My gut feeling was the turbo covers I am installing seem pretty robust, crush washers sealing the threaded area, thick gaskets for imperfections, polished mating surfaces, even torqueing medium pressure correct sequence......All should be fine.

I'll torque down to 10lbs. install motor, drive and check for leaks.

Unfortunately I will not be able to reinstall my motor until maybe June. I need a flywheel ($$$) and do some chassis work like brake hoses, fuel lines, heat flappers...........

Terry

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by BlueWing

Still some conflicting thoughts here. After reading my original search I thought of the aircooled motor expansion and contractions. lower valve covers with a pool of oil behind them threaded fastners acting like wicks, warp prone covers...........

My gut feeling was the turbo covers I am installing seem pretty robust, crush washers sealing the threaded area, thick gaskets for imperfections, polished mating surfaces, even torqueing medium pressure correct sequence......All should be fine.
Terry

Just curious; who did you buy "thick gaskets" from? Are you aware that the Porsche o.e. lower gaskets are very thin? And that you can find those, and the good washers, in Wrightwood Racing kits.

[kidrock]

try putting 18 lbs on those red silicone rubber gaskets and see what happens

[dshepp806]

In direct answer to the OP's question, my answer would be "with a nice digital 0-20 foot-lb Tech Wrench"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can "feel" and read at the same time.....well,...kinda,..she vibrates as you approach programmed torque value and this is distracting to "feel"...but very informative.

Best!

Doyle

[howard freeman]

Factory gaskets,new nuts & washers 25 nm torque= 14-18 ftlbs & yes,I always torque everything& add torque seal when i'm done. No liability went you use the torque wrench.
Howard