I finally got told to use a torque wrench on my engine bolts, glad I listened

Last month at the garage, my neighbor Dave who restores old Mustangs said I was asking for trouble using a regular ratchet on my intake manifold bolts. He told me to pick up a cheap torque wrench from Harbor Freight for 30 bucks and follow the specs. I did what he said and torqued each bolt to 18 ft-lbs in sequence. A week later I saw a post from a guy who snapped two bolts doing the same job by hand. Anyone else have a neighbor who saved them from a costly mistake?

2 comments

2 Comments

susan_ward5d ago

Honestly that guy snapping two bolts reminds me of when my dad stripped his oil pan by hand.

miller.jason4d ago

Ngl that takes some serious arm strength, or maybe some serious frustration. Stripping an oil pan by hand is wild though, that thing is usually torqued down pretty good. Did he just keep going after it felt tight, or was he using a wrench that was way too long? Honestly I've seen people round bolts off before, but the whole pan is next level. Hope he didn't have to drop the whole thing to fix it, that's a nightmare job in a driveway. Tbh I'd rather snap two bolts than deal with that mess.