Need to re-torque head, but socket is too fat

usually too lazy to get the offset for the distributor covered head nut..when retorquing I run the wrench through the rest and get a feel of how far Im turning to achieve torque..then do the distributor or the water neck with a wrench..your not seating the gasket,your pulling stretch out of the stud,it doesn't have to be exact..turn the torque wrench 3/4 of a turn? turn the wrench 3/4 of a turn..
 
HOW TO COMPUTE TORQUE WHEN USING ADAPTORS

http://www.torqwrench.com/Info/FAQ.html


If an adaptor or extension is attached to the square drive of a click-type torque wrench and this adds to its length, then the applied torque will be greater than the pre-set torque. A formula can be used to find what the preset-set torque should be in order to obtain the correct applied torque.

the above link has the formula
 
Does anyone realize how many head gaskets have been replaced since 1928 on A's. B's, and V8's WITHOUT a torque wrench and ran just fine??
Paul in CT
 
1931 flamingo said:
Does anyone realize how many head gaskets have been replaced since 1928 on A's. B's, and V8's WITHOUT a torque wrench and ran just fine??
Paul in CT
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My father was considered a very fine mechanic and I don’t remember him ever owning a torque wrench!
 
Ford trained their mechanics to fit and feel.The human body is quite capable at repeating torque applied by hand and through practice can rely on it.
 
Good Morning...Many of us don't use a gasket on the water outlet. We file them absolutely flat with a big rasp or on a belt sander and then put them on with a light coat of Copper Coat or some such and then tighten them down to 55 pounds. The problem is that the gaskets compress at a different speed under the ears and that is what breaks the ears...Ernie in Arizona
 
Yup, either a thin-wall or grinding on your own socket. And for the other a crows-foot is fine and won't make much of a difference in the torque to worry about. Its a Model A.

Be very careful of the water spout. That'll break easily if not treated properly.
 
If you have some nuts loose, you should drain the coolant so that it does not flow into the crankcase. I have just changed the cylinder head gasket and managed to break the outlet casting. I got a new one from Snyders and they recommend putting a paper match to the outside of the two studs. I used RTV instead of a gasket the second time around and torqued to 50 ft-lbs. No problems so far. Ed
 
CarlG said:
The design of the Vintage Precision water neck is much different than the original, as well as it being steel rather than iron. I don't see how it could break.
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Yes, unfortunately the OP didn't mention he had a Vintage Precision water neck until post #30 so I am afraid some of my responses and responses by others may not be corrector pertain to the Vintage Precision unit. I was thinking he was installing a stock type of neck with the provision for a TI in it.
 
I have the VP thermostat housing on both my Model A's for 5 years. Both were installed using my Craftsman 3/8" drive 11/16" socket, fits just fine with clearance between the OD of socket and side of thermostat housing.
 
Y-Blockhead said:
There is a special wrench by Snap-on (if you can find one, they are out of production) or use the "Gyp Part" you get from the vendors.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/snaponheadwrench.htm

You don't say what year your car is but I find on the '30-31 a thin walled 12pt ⅜" drive socket will fit the water neck. It is tighter on the '28-29. You may have to pull the distributor...
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I ordered one from Bratton’s or Snyder’s, I don’t recall which.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
shew01 said:
I ordered one from Bratton’s or Snyder’s, I don’t recall which.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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The supplier's version is junk, read what it says about them on that fordgarage link above.

I'd love to find an original Snap-on or Bonney obstruction offset wrench for sale. What sort of money do they go for?
 
I see the snap-on obstruction wrench's on e-bay regularly in the $20-$40 range.
They never say anything about model A just listed as an 11/16 obstruction wrench
 
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Phil Brown said:
I see the snap-on obstruction wrench's on e-bay regularly in the $20-$40 range.
They never say anything about model A just listed as an 11/16 obstruction wrench
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Great, thank you. Searched "11/16 obstruction wrench" on ebay and found this 12 point head for a Pontiac for under $20, hope it will do the job.


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