"I stop when you hear that metallic squeak. That's when I consider it snug. "
Can't tell you how dangerous that approach is with the upper, at least from my perspective. You're screwing into a cast aluminum lower intake - it's very weak. It doesn't take much to break it. I've seen folks who got confused on their torque specs totally rip a chunk out of the lower at as low as 22-24 ft-lbs. Use the wrench - that's what it's for. The squeak of threads tells you nothing at all.
Can't tell you how dangerous that approach is with the upper, at least from my perspective. You're screwing into a cast aluminum lower intake - it's very weak. It doesn't take much to break it. I've seen folks who got confused on their torque specs totally rip a chunk out of the lower at as low as 22-24 ft-lbs. Use the wrench - that's what it's for. The squeak of threads tells you nothing at all.