How to torque crank bolt without turning engine?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2024
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How to torque crank bolt without turning engine?
All the methods I've read about seem sketchy, like putting rope in a cylinder, or sticking a screwdriver in the flywheel. What do shops actually do? Can I use my impact gun? I won't have control over the exact torque of course, but the range I found (70-90) is pretty wide.
This is for my 1993 with 460.
This is for my 1993 with 460.
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From: sussex county, nj
Lead Driver
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From: Greater Austin, Texas
There's an access panel on the bell housing or something like that?
Yes, you need to remove it and stick a screwdriver into one of the starter gear teeth and pin it up against the bell housing as you turn the motor.
That flywheel turner referenced above will not work on a Ford because the bellhousing goes all the way around the flywheel. A tool like that, you use on a GM.
Last edited by jas88; Feb 27, 2026 at 03:07 PM.
Cargo Master
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simple use one of these https://www.autozone.com/p/oemtools-...SABEgIGrfD_BwE
I would not follow my lead but at my age, I don't use a torque wrench for hardware like that. It's important for rod/main bearings as well as head bolts, but the rest of them on the engine, I don't. It's what happens when you work on cars for a living.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: North Texas
Some engine families have actual tools to hold it so you can torque to spec. it is worth a look about
I think on my 302 I just dropped the starter, found an open port in the flexplate and slipped an extension in it.
I think on my 302 I just dropped the starter, found an open port in the flexplate and slipped an extension in it.
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Mountain Pass
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I'm really inclined to just impact gun it.
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Cargo Master
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All too often torque specs are given because you can't just say to tighten the bolt. How do you define tight? That is why the factory has torque specs for darn near anything. I worked for a manufacturer that had torque specs for coolant hose clamps. Really? You need to have a torque spec for that? Yeah, because I've seen too many people tighten a hose clamp where it cuts the hose.
I understand that you want to do it right, but the bolt it fairly large and you are concerned about nothing. Don't grab your 1" impact that you use on semi's and don't use the 1/4 drive you use on interior trim pieces. Common sense goes a long way. If you don't have any experience what so ever, use a torque wrench.
Don't follow my lead, everyone knows I am a butcher.
I understand that you want to do it right, but the bolt it fairly large and you are concerned about nothing. Don't grab your 1" impact that you use on semi's and don't use the 1/4 drive you use on interior trim pieces. Common sense goes a long way. If you don't have any experience what so ever, use a torque wrench.
Don't follow my lead, everyone knows I am a butcher.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2024
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70-90 ft-lbs is what I got online.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2024
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https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-...ece-69870.html
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: North Texas
Discount Tyre near me use them and the Firestone shops, they set initial torque with them and then pass back over with a torque wrench.
Still do and has been near 25 years since I worked at Discount
Unsure how they work, maybe like a torsion bar?
Still do and has been near 25 years since I worked at Discount
Unsure how they work, maybe like a torsion bar?
