carpdad

Moving on to gaskets, getting ready for oil pan, valve cover and pushrod cover. All have been leaking a few years now.
Haynes says 18-27 inch/pounds torque for pushrod cover bolts. That almost looks the same as finger tight. Are those numbers right?

The rocker arm nut/bolt is 17-23 foot/lb. Also correct?

The tool question is about socket wrench. During engine mount change, there were places where only 1/8 turn was possible, and the 3/8 drive wrench gear will not engage. Is it my cheap tool or that's the way it is?

Thank you in advance.

Rusty but trusty

18-27 in lb is about what you would want for a small bolt or screw. And if you can't get your tool to ratchet in tight spaces the teeth are too big on it. The finer the teeth the better it will work in tight places. Usually means it will be a more expensive tool also.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

I had to go tighter because my rockers loosened up on me after I did it. I don't torque the cover, I do it by feel. Rubber is more forgiving than cork. My year has cork but I used a newer year rubber one, and siliconed it to the cover to make things easier. Extensions and swivels are your friends.

carpdad

Thank you for the replies. Quick glance at the new wrench specs says the standard gear is about 70 teeth. That probably is an improvement on what I have. I'll see if I can find something better.
I can't find the post now, but I read about the rocker bolt coming loose after the years and causing ticking noise. Could be 5w/20-30 I added to use up the left over oil (I also read about thinner oil causing ticking?).
About the forgiving rubber gasket makes a lot of sense. But I'll see what comes out of the cover. Even if the oem was rubber, I think going to 35 in/lb is baby step enough to see what happens without risking damage to the metal cover. I wish the manuals had some common sense info.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

The cover is pretty tough. It isn't just stamped steel it's cast aluminum.

sdmartin65

Went the rounds with that pushrod cover gasket replacement. Rubber gasket is best plus The Right Stuff gasket sealant. Let sit overnight to dry and blue thread lock on bolts that are barely past finger tight. Double check that a po hasn't over torqued and bent cover, straighten as needed. Take time to do it right or you'll get a second chance.