I have just fitted the ARP rod bolts to my blacktop
zetec.Now the insructions state to torque the bolts to 25ftlbs
using the lube supplied.I can't help but think that this is not
tight enough for rod bolts
Standard bolts are 26ftlbs then tighten a further 90degs.

ARP know their stuff better than me but i just think the bolts will
come loose at this low torque figure.
Should i just relax and put the sump on?
Or am i missing something
Any help or comments will be greatfully recieved.

Cheers

Andy

Using the lube will make them easier to tighten. so that probably accounts for the lower than standard torque figure.
If you are concerned, give them a bell to confirm the figure for your own piece of mind.
It's what I would do.

Been there and done that. Five years of road and trackday use and they have yet to let go and I rev to 7500.
They do prefer the stretch measurement for correct tightening but that's more difficult and you need to have accurate vernier or micrometer to check.

I think the secret is in the lube. 25 ft lb with their lube on and torquing them and undoing three times is equivalent to 500 ft lb dry. (well not exactly but almost).

One point is to chamfer the edges of the hole in the rod to ensure there is no contact there between edge of hole and bolt to avoid a stress riser.

Yea, thats what i was thinking too.

Coozer was here when i fitted them,we both looked at each other
when the wrench clicked and that was mentioned in the concerned conversation.
I was just wondering how other peeps felt about it when they had installed the bolts.


Ah,thanks for that info Dusty.I will loosen the bolts and tighten them a further twice in the morning.
Cheers

Andy

[Edited on 24/11/10 by lotusmadandy]

thats was exactly what i thought when i did mine. yet to try it out though. we would have to see.

As already mentioned above, Don't forget to chamfer the holes

Knew a lad who forgot to do this (also on a zetec) and the engine lasted about 15 sec's before it span a big end shell

Thanks for the info Gent's.
the holes have been chamfered and they
have been tightened and slackened three times
with fresh lube each time.

Or even slackened then tightened again three times.
(sorry i is a bit pished)

Andy