OK So in reading through other threads, I ran across one that really got me to thinking. 7.3 loud noise

So mine is nowhere near as loud as what they show in the videos but if I listen carefully, I can hear what seems like a very slight "knock".
The truck runs fine..no rough idle, fires up easily in cold or warm. Just replaced the water pump... But about a year ago, my wife had the shop do some TLC on my truck and one of those things was to re-torque the injectors... at least thats what I think they did...cant find the work order anymore. Not sure if it was the injectors, the rockers or both.
Anyway...back to the sound...I do hear the slight knock if I listen real close.
I am wondering if maybe they only did one or the other...but not both.
I have noticed a slight loss of power but only because I have been watcing the performance lately since my truck is getting up there in miles... 286K.
I think I will dig into the valve covers and do some wrenching.
If I remeember correctly,
Injectors - 120 in. lbs
Rockers - 60 or 80 ft lbs.

However, I don't own a torque wrench that I can trust. I have one large one but I have used it as a cheater bar so many times I can guarantee it isn't in specs. So I want to go out and buy a new one. But holy crap!!! The $$ they ask for these things is up there!
I did find a $40 one at Home Depot that does both 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive but only in ft lbs.
Harbor Freight has each at about $20 each but can I trust those to be accurate? Even for a one time use?

Recommendations on torque wrenches without breaking the bank?

Thanks all!

 

Billybob, I've been a Craftsman fan since youth, which is what I own in torque wrenches. Here's my take on this. Unless you’re getting your wrenches recalibrated at some PMEL shop every 6 months, how accurate will any of them be? What we do here, working on our own trucks and cars, I’m thinking that my 15-20 year old torque wrenches work great for me, being that when I torque my lug nuts, that wrench is giving me 150lbs of torque plus or minus unknown. And by unknown I actually mean don’t care. That torque setting isn’t gona snap that wheel stud and all my bolts are the same. That said, will an inexpensive beam deflector torque wrench give you an accurate setting? Not sure, but all the bolts and nuts will be torques the same and in my opinion, that’s whats most important. Hope I don't get thrown too far under the bus.

 

sears usually sells them for around $80, sometimes on sale for 1/2 price
Are you a Craftsman club member?
Otherwise, go to Harbor Freight $9.99

 

This is on tool you don't wanna be cheap on. But if you do go the cheap route read this. I've used this method a few times and it works.
How to perform your own torque wrench calibration testing

 

I have a 1/2" torque wrench with a 20-250ft/lbs range. I would like to buy another to do the lower torque bolts. I have a couple of options a 5-50 ft lbs 3/8" or a 25-250 in lbs 3/8". I want to cover as much of the range as possible ideally keeping to just the two wrenches. Is this realistic? I should also point out that my existing wench was tested at a friends shop and was within 3% across the entire range the lower range being better than the upper range, tested in 10 ft lb increments.

 

Get the inch lbs wrench. You already have the Ft lb covered.

 

At work we have our tq wrenches checked and certified yearly. Techs are responsible for purchasing these so we have all makes model sizes. What we have found is hf are good for up to five years, after that we have seen a few get way off. We had a few craftsman snap on fail but these were all ten years or older. We have been doing this for the past four years and total only 5-6 wrenches have failed. After seeing this I would feel comfortable using hf craftsman for home use

 

I agree! I am a Honda certified m/c tech and I use and recommend Snap-on. I do understand they are priced almost twice what a do-it-yourself guy might want to spend but they are worth the money. A lot of the techs that work with me have craftsman torque wrenches and they seem to like them just fine. Have heard them say that sears will calibrate them easier than your off the truck torque wrenches too.... Just my thoughts about it

 

I just asked my friend about recalibrating and with my particular wrench it is very easy.



Remove the yellow cap.



Adjust with the set screw after loosening the lock nut

 

its not ideal to torque fasteners at the very upper or lower end of the torque range, if accuracy is very important.I feel with four torque wrenches I can cover everything from a few inch pounds to 250ft lb.but I work on small engines as well.