Manifold Torque

Jacksonlll

Jacksonlll

Well-known member
I have been using 45 ft.# like the red book says. Page 1-134.
Someone said that this was wrong in the red book. They were listing all the errors in Les's book. They said it should be 25 to 30 ft.#.

What is correct????
 
I can remember in auto mechanics classes years ago a student ask the same question and the teacher replied to tighten it till it breaks off and then back off one half turn ! Some how I became an ASE master mechanic.
 
I was told by a reputable engine builder, to torque to 20lbs. I looked at him cross eyed thinking he was crazy. So what can I lose I torque to 20 and everything is fine. Been 2 years now no leaks.
I’m happy
 
Like Pat says 45 foot lbs. probably won't hurt .Ford didn't list torque settings , so I've been told . Over tightening is what warps the exhaust manifold . I just use a 3/8 ratchet and a deep wall socket with common sense . After a few heat and cool cycles check and retighten . repeat as needed untill it seems to hold . When the exhaust manifold warps, the outer ends curl outwards . The exhaust manafold has no outer studs and nuts to hold the the ends flat when over tightened . Just my thoughts and experience .
 
As Purdey says, Ford didn't list torque numbers, it was just reasonably tight! About 30-35 lbs. But very important, Re torque or tighten several times after replacing the manifold. Ford mod A s are good at loosening up the heads and manifolds. Over tightening at first is not a solution. Coming back several times and retightening is.
Terry
 
Usualy when you retighten you will feel some minor looseness on some of the manifold nuts . After a few check and retighten they should settle in and hold . Most likely the manifold gaskets will shrink after a few heat cycles and retightenings . Its not about making it tighter each time. The manifold nuts just need to hold uniform tightness. Ford furnished a wtench that was used for head nuts & manifold nuts on one end , the other end fit the 3-X spark plug . The length of the mentioned wrench was supposeto give the proper leverage for the average person to tighten these nuts and spoark plug . This wrench ,came with the car.
 
I use 35 pounds and has worked well. There were some who used as high as 55 pounds. I think they were associating the size with head nuts which are working against compression. I agree that many statements in the "red' book are incorrect. Being in print makes it look official. One thing I stress is to tighten manifold nuts from the center outward and in stages. Nothing like trapping a bow and breaking the manifold to ruin your day. Of course you want the manifold to be on the same plane (flat, straight, etc.) as much as possible.
 
Bill in NJ said:
I can remember in auto mechanics classes years ago a student ask the same question and the teacher replied to tighten it till it breaks off and then back off one half turn ! Some how I became an ASE master mechanic.
Click to expand...

We had a student in one of my classes that asked the teacher how many thousandths were there in an inch, the teacher replied, bloody hundreds of them.
 
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