My ARP rod bolts turned up yesterday for my blacktop. reading the fitting instruction from ARP it says torque to 36 ft lbs??? that doesnt seem very much.

is this correct?

Is that wildly different from stock?
My Pinto says 35ftlb so I would say 36 sounds ok
ARP have 2 ratings 1 with ARP lube 2nd with oil

Yep mine are in at that, the bolts are also supposed to stretch using a special tool.

I was advised to tighten and loosen them 3 times to get the stretch.

My torque wrench is in Nm so by my calculations thats 48.8Nm.

36ft lb x 1.3558=48.80 Nm

Are they the rod bolts? If so, don't forget to countersink the bearing caps.

Now i'm confused, ARPs website states that for a 2.0 zetec torque the bolts to 36ft lbs, opening the bolt packet with the grease theres a fitting guide that says torque to 25ft lbs???

which is it

the bolt i have do state they can be used on 1.6, 1.8 & 2.0 Zetec.

IIRC our UK 1.8 and 2.0 are listed under 1.6 on US website. The 2.0 listed is for ST170 variant or something.

Torque is produced by the friction on the threads as you squeeze the caps together
The ARP lube is a molybdenum thin grease so for the same bolt stretch you see less torque
I didn't think ARP were stretch type bolts in the true sense but we all know bolts will stretch to some extent jnder load
IMHO

Pretty sure they are stretch bolts as the instructions recommend measuring the stretch:

[4] ARP recommends using the STRETCH METHOD when tightening rod bolts. Following the instructions for using a stretch gauge, Stretch the bolts to . 0050 - . 0055 .

Thats it, done and fitted.

countersunk, arp lubed, torqued & loosened 3x to 25ft lbs (33.8Nm).

simple.