Thermostat housing bolt torque
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
Thermostat housing bolt torque
94 LT1 VIN P Engine - Torque value on bolts for thermostat housing.
After many many many weeks of Saturday morning only replacing water pump, opti, radiator, etc. I am coming down to the end.....the thermostat housing.
The FSM reads 18 lb-ft (216 in-lb) torque. This seems rather high to me for such a tiny bolt going into my new aluminum water pump.
The socket is so small that it comes out of my 1/4 inch drive set, then I place the 1/4 to 3/8 adapter on it to use the 3/8 inch drive for my torque wrench (which measure in in-lbs).
My point here is that my torque wrench is for small torques using a 3/8 ratchet.....and now I am using a rather high value for a 1/4 ratchet size socket.....
I do NOT want to make a mistake now! i.e. snap a bolt off in the new aluminum water pump.....
I am up to about 190 lb-in and really getting nervous.
If anyone has experience with breaking these bolts at this high torque, I would be interested in knowing before going any higher......
I will go ahead and finish radiator install and cooling fans for now.....
Thanks
K.C.
After many many many weeks of Saturday morning only replacing water pump, opti, radiator, etc. I am coming down to the end.....the thermostat housing.
The FSM reads 18 lb-ft (216 in-lb) torque. This seems rather high to me for such a tiny bolt going into my new aluminum water pump.
The socket is so small that it comes out of my 1/4 inch drive set, then I place the 1/4 to 3/8 adapter on it to use the 3/8 inch drive for my torque wrench (which measure in in-lbs).
My point here is that my torque wrench is for small torques using a 3/8 ratchet.....and now I am using a rather high value for a 1/4 ratchet size socket.....
I do NOT want to make a mistake now! i.e. snap a bolt off in the new aluminum water pump.....
I am up to about 190 lb-in and really getting nervous.
If anyone has experience with breaking these bolts at this high torque, I would be interested in knowing before going any higher......
I will go ahead and finish radiator install and cooling fans for now.....
Thanks
K.C.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I never use the factory torque ratings for anything other than reference. On an older alum piece its risky. I get them to snug then give a little extra if that makes any sense.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
It makes sense and I agree.
It would not really bother me except that it is located right above the opti....so if it leaks.....it will probably end up heading south toward the new opti and then it is game over.....again.
After I finish I will keep a close eye on that area anyway......nice thing about thermostat is that it is easy to get to..
It would not really bother me except that it is located right above the opti....so if it leaks.....it will probably end up heading south toward the new opti and then it is game over.....again.
After I finish I will keep a close eye on that area anyway......nice thing about thermostat is that it is easy to get to..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
The only bolts I torque into aluminum are the intake manifold bolts.. I have seen to many striped bolts when dealing with aluminum and like mentioned above, I do it by feel instead of using a torque wrench, runners, plenum, thermostate housing,and all accessories into aluminum go snug then a little bit more....WW
Last edited by WW7; Aug 21, 2010 at 03:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
Problem solved.......when reading the FSM, I did not realize that the quoted torque values were for VIN J (216 lb-in)......I went back through FSM and found the value for VIN P and it was about 100 lb-in!
So I over torqued them significantly. Could have been a disaster.
I went back and loosened them and re-torqued.....hopefully it will be okay.
So I over torqued them significantly. Could have been a disaster.
I went back and loosened them and re-torqued.....hopefully it will be okay.
