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How to torque down head with restricted room in engine bay?
Finally got engine in today new head bolts arrived, Ive never torqued down a head in a car before but I noticed there is limited space at the back near brake booster. I put my breaker bar in there today but cant do a full 90 degree with the space I have available.
Can I divide the standard 2 X 90 degree turns with my angle gauge to 4 X 45 degree shorter turns?? Any ideas?
You can divide it to get the full amount of the turn. Best thing to do is get a torque angle gauge, or make something, so you know that you're consistent.
You just put the motor in the car and THEN decided to torque the heads? Why not just do it on the stand? Anyways, if you dont have a torque to angle gauge take a sharpie and draw a line on the top of the bolt heads so you can watch for 90*.
Somehow it just looks weird seeing the brake stuff over on that side of the car. Yeah I know; I was just there for New Year's in Sydney; but it still looks weird.
Yes you can split your 90° into 2 45° increments, theoretically. Problem will be that a socket doesn't have hexes in 45° increments. Might have to settle for 3 30°s.
You could also try finding a shorter extension or socket, so the bar is closer to the valve cover flange.
You know what They say... in theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, not so much. Those pesky details always seem to get in the way of a beautiful theory...
You can break it up in to parts, but the best and easiest way is to make a mark on the bolt at it's current location and turn it 90 degrees or make a mark at it's starting point and a mark at 90 degrees, its real easy to lose your place if you take the bar on and off the bolt.
You can also gain a lot of room ( well it's a little but a little goes a long way on these cars ) by loosening the crossmember bolts and letting the engine come down about half an inch. The way I do it is take a crossmember bolt all the way out and then thread it in 2-3 turns. Then do the next bolt all the way out and back in a few turns. That way you know you have the bolts down as far as they can go, but also in enough threads to support the weight. Finding longer bolts to go in there to drop it further down is also a good plan (just using the longer ones temporarily while you have the engine down, then put the stock ones back in to tighten it all back up)
You just put the motor in the car and THEN decided to torque the heads? Why not just do it on the stand? Anyways, if you dont have a torque to angle gauge take a sharpie and draw a line on the top of the bolt heads so you can watch for 90*.
I had to do this once and found that the sharpie method was perhaps the simplest way. +1
Quote You can break it up in to parts, but the best and easiest way is to make a mark on the bolt at it's current location and turn it 90 degrees or make a mark at it's starting point and a mark at 90 degrees, its real easy to lose your place if you take the bar on and off the bolt.
Quote You just put the motor in the car and THEN decided to torque the heads
Yes had to sadly getting a little pressed for time waiting for bolts.
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How to torque down head with restricted room in engine bay? 
