model A

[Randy Lausch]

when you torque down the rods to 35 lb. the cotterpin will not line up with the king nut. the only way i can get it is to over torque it sometimes it takes 45 lb. torque to get it to line up. or I have to under torque it is that what they normally do is over torque it?

 

[Patrick L.]

Thats fine, its what is done.

You could sand the nut on a piece of glass/sand paper a bit and try it again. Remember that torque wrenches weren't used back then.

 

[J Franklin]

Remember that the cap doesn't take much load so it really only needs to be snug and won't come loose if there is a good cotter pin used. sometimes you can swap different nuts and find ones that fit better. Some Model Ts were set up with aftermarket springs to keep the rod caps always tight and take up wear.

 

[Jim Brierley]

Don't under-torque it. Tighten or shim under the nut to align the hole. I never use castellated nuts as they only have a few full threads, I use ARP nuts without cotter pins and torque to 50 lbs. on my race engines.