Im wanting to do a lot of installs on my car myself...im wondering how important it is to go by the torqe specifiations when tightening bolts down? Parts such as exhaust manifold, 02 housing, i also want to install cams. Can i just tighten it as much as i can physically tighten it and call it a day or is that asking for disaster?

 

is this a seri question?

invest in a good TQ wrench and tq everything to spec. those #'s are there for a reason, not just to fill up a tech manual.

 

That is asking for a major disaster.

 

how much does a good one cost...i have never done a lot of installs myself but i want to start...is sears a good place to get them?

 

Your asking for a disaster. Things like exhaust piping connections and hose clamps you can use judgement and tighten them down and be good to go with some mechanical experience. Things like suspension, engine (cams) and other important moving parts you better use proper torque.

Sears is a good place to go as well as other reputal tool dealers. Just make sure you don't toss the torque wrench around or you'll knock it out of callibration. The price is determined by which range or torque rating you get and drive size of the wrench.

 

Some things I don't believe need exact torque spec but anything like cams or headstuds.. or anything with a bearing should be torqued to proper specs...

 

so its just like a wrench that u put on the bolt after u tighten it and it tells u how tight it is?...wont numerous sizes be needed to get into tight spaces? Or is there a certain one i could get to use for everything

 

and you will be amazed at how little torque is needed when doing cam installs...

a torque wrench is just a rachet with a spring in it that clicks when it reaches the torque you set it at. the handle will spin so you can adjust it. caution, don't skimp on the torque wrench with a cheap one. i have person experience trying to figure out what was wrong with a motor after the engine builder used a bad torque wrench. he over tightened all the main bearing bolts on the crank and it destroyed the block and crank (wasn't his fault, although it was pretty obvious how far off the wrench was). we only found it out by testing the wrench on a bad head, the wrench litterally broke a cam bearing cap bolt off by over tightening it before it clicked. this was on a CBR 250cc motor cycle engine so the bolts were pretty small and easy to break though. none-the-less it stresses how important it is to have a good quality torque wrench

 

no its a bigger rachet and you actually set what torque you would like on the handle usually of the rachet and while tightening the bolt it will click when you hit the torque amount to set it to.

 

looks like this..

 

Dude...dont even touch your car if you have to ask this question. YOU WILL DO DAMAGE!

Always torque to spec. Only things I wouldnt care about would be exhaust or an intake or something like that...but internals such as cams? DO IT!

 

If you don't know what a torque wrench is, it's probably not a good idea to do your own installs.

 

i honestly would not touch the cams if ur talking about such a question no offense, but there is alot more to cams than just trq bolts to spec. As far as bolt ons involving like exhaust i never trq to spec really i just zip them on wit the air gun and call it a day lol

 

scary question, but I guess everybody has to start somewhere. YOU DO need to use the torque specs on things like that.
Also, make sure the torque wrench is always back to zero when you dont use it..

 

Cams are not way to go. He should start off with knowing what the different types of tools are and actually learning to do easy jobs.