It was a harbor freight Torque wrench that is just not working (my mistake was trusting a harbor freight torque wrency). According to the documentation it is a click type. I am returning it and renting one from the Autozone across from my office.


Looks like Flickr is working again.

 

The photos show your care in not getting stuff into where it doesn't belong. Kudos to you! See how much junk gets in those bolt holes (second pic)?

The squashed gaskets can happen from overtightening plastic ones - but not so likely to happen with the metal/rubber gaskets.

IIRC mine was a cheapo inch.lb wrench from Summit. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-m201/overview/

The Harbor Freight one https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-...+torque+wrench

Similar but not the same torque wrench. Nevertheless, I'm sure they are both manufactured overseas.

 

I can't believe the junk that came out if those bolt holes when I tapped them. I got a nicer rental torque wrench from Autozone so I will retorque them tonight. i will also Declan and reapply thread sealer

 

Interesting no orange RTV on intake gaskets.

 

No but there were a couple of really tiny pieces on the shaft of the distributor.

 

I got the valve cover gaskets done tonight and they went on just fine. I even correctly torqued the lower intake bolts. Even at 133 inch pounds it didn't feel like they were super tight. I put all the seals on the upper intake but I can't get it over the top of the fuel spider. Do I need to lube it or something? I don't want to force it.

Thanks folks!

 

Probably just a little oil or silicone spray on the o-ring seal. Careful not to cut it or push it out of place.

 

That is why i don't want to force it. I have silicone spray. I'll give that a shot.

 

I just noticed that I messed up my EGR tube that goes from the exhaust to the intake manifold

You can't really see it here but instead of turning the end I was actually twisting it, so know it is a twisted mess. If I can't, how bad would it be to just block the ends off until I can get one from the local salvage yard?


That must be super soft because it twisted very easily..

 

Ouch! Will be very difficult to get the other end out of the driver's side exhaust manifold without heat from a torch and having the engine out. I would be tempted to try to repair the twisted section with a double compression fitting. Might have to go to McMaster-Carr for something this big, though.

Here you go (see attachments). If tube is either 3/4" or 1" and you have enough good tube length, then you could possibly repair it with one of the compression unions I have highlighted in blue. Tubing OD needs to be exact.