Because sometimes they keep you from doing something stupid!

Okay, this is a really basic question and I'm 99% sure that I know the answer but, since I don't want any added expense or time spent, I'll ask and make sure.

On the valve cover bolts, the Haynes manual says to torque to 84IN lbs. I got a torque wrench the other day and was really tired when it came time to install the cover (I believe it was around hour 24 of being up for 26). When I read the torque wrench I said "Oh! This torque wrench is for much higher application! It has a range of 5 FT lbs to 80 FT lbs!" So what I did was tighten them blindly just till they were snug. No extra force. Where they stopped is where they stopped. No leaks that I could see.

As I hit the pillow, my mind seemed to start working a bit again and I realized "Hey! 84 IN = 7 FT!" Before I looked in the book, I thought I had heard something about 7 or 8 ft lbs so that would make sense.

Anyway, I've had four hours sleep since then, so I'm not entirely peppy and just want to make sure that they are supposed to be torqued to 7 ft lbs and 12 in lbs DO equal 1 ft lb just like any other inch to foot application.[sm=sleeping.gif][sm=bangbang.gif]

While I was working, I was thinking that 100 in lbs = 1 ft lb![sm=wakeup.gif]

I guess I had been working in metric all day and had a little bit of a cranial passing of the gas!

 

12 INCH LBS = 1 FT LBS

SAME AS ANY OTHER INCH TO FOTT CONVERSION

I'VE HAD HODAS FOR YEARS ANY NEVER ONCE TORQUED THE VALVE COVER DOWN TO SPEC
TIGHTEN TILL IF FEEL TIGHT AND STOP. IF YOU HAVE A D15B7 THEY TEND TO BREAK.

 

I concur. 84 in-lbs is translated to 7 ft-lbs. In order to get more precise torque specs on the smaller bolts, they need to go to in-lbs. most car bolts except for the big suckers tend to be under 100 ft-lbs of torque. So your instincts helped you there.

 

I agree it's easy to break those valve cover bolts. Much better to potentially undertighten them and check back later if you have a leak. If your gasket is in good shape it won't leak.