torqing intake and vavle covers

[jaackal]

I am installing an upper and lower Cobra Intake on my 88 LX, what should i torque the bolts too? Also, what should I torque the valve covers too since im changing them also?

 

[88 Fox GT]

I don't think you shoud have to torque the valve covers.

If I remember right, the lower intake will need to be torqued to 18-20 ft-lbs. I'm not absolutely sure about that though.

 

[jaackal]

ok, any one with a service manual can tell me?

 

[5.0 Nostalgia]

My service manual said 12-18 for the two bolts under the intake cover. I assume the rest are the same. I didn't see anything about the valve covers. I am looking through a Ford manual, not a Chilton's.

 

[tmoss]

20ft-lbs on the lower intake in three even steps. Then retorque at least once (twice would be better) after a few heat cycles. ONly use 10-12ft-lbs on the upper-to-lower bolts or you might break the ears off the uopper intake.

 

[Michael Yount]

Also - be sure to use the torquing pattern on the lower that's set out in the manual. It's an unusual pattern that you won't simply guess (not your usual "x-ing" out from the middle). I use Tmoss' torque values - be sure to use a torque wrench. Many lower/upper intakes have been broken because people simply overtightened them without a torque wrench.

Use a very small ratchet wrench on the valve covers - just make them snug. Those are easy to break to. If you have an inch-lbs. torque wrench - about 60 inch-lbs. on the valve covers.

 

[jaackal]

ok, last question is what is the torqing pattern then?

 

[Michael Yount]

Standing in front of the car, and numbering the lower intake bolts in the same pattern as the spark plugs (1 thru 6 from front to back on the passenger side; 7-12 from front to back on the driver's side), torque them in this order:

#2-#11-#5-#8-#1-#7-#6-#12--#3-#10-#4-#9

You should see that the last 4 to be torqued are the middle 4 bolts, and the next to the last to be torqued are the 4 corners; the first four are the 'intermediate' bolts -- all of these in an 'X' pattern. Take them up to 18-20 ft-lbs. or so in 3 or 4 increments.

 

[jaackal]

ok, i appreciate it

 

[somersdp]

After snugging everything down, you can start the car and spray some brake cleaner around the edges to see if you got it right. If the RPM's increase while spaying try again...