How to tighten turbo to manifold bolts?

SupraMan1987

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Mar 8, 2006
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Ok, so I am at the point in my build where I will most likely be installing my turbo back on the manifold in the very near future. My question is, what is the trick to getting all the bolts tight? The damn thing somehow has a torque spec, and I have no idea how to get even a wrench in a few spots, mus less anything at all that can torque. Any advice would be appreciated, as I just have no idea how I'll get a socket and torque wrench on 3 of the 4 bolts.
 

GrimJack

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Dec 31, 1969
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idriders.com
Flex head gear wrenches are your friend.

1018731.jpg
 
I think he's worried about torquing them down properly, not just tightening them. I've never been able to figure out a way to get a torque wrench to tighten the front upper nut :( I can get the others with flex joints and fancy manuvering though, and just kind of tighten the one I can't torque down and hope :)
 

SupraMan1987

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Mar 8, 2006
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Foompla;1268716 said:
how come your using a torque wrench on a manifold?

The turbo to manifold does have a torque spec. So yeah, I was hoping to be able to use it. I guess I'm just going to go with Jack's suggestion and tear up the swivel headed ratcheting wrenches. Also, is their any issue with using carb cleaner to clean the turbo up? I know mine has grime and shit all over it, but almost no play, so I see no real need to rebuild it. i don't plan to inject it in gallons into every hole, just want to spray it down and clean it up.
 

SupraMan1987

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rtrdpenguin;1268728 said:
I think he's worried about torquing them down properly, not just tightening them. I've never been able to figure out a way to get a torque wrench to tighten the front upper nut :( I can get the others with flex joints and fancy manuvering though, and just kind of tighten the one I can't torque down and hope :)

Thats kind of what I figured, even the TSRM says to just torque them down, and then shows a hand with a wrench. Only thing I can think of is using a torque wrench with removable actual box ended wrench heads, but I'm not lucky enough to posses one quite yet. Your in Charlotte, kind of small world. Have I seen you at any of the QS meets?
 

rayall01

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SupraMan1987;1268738 said:
Thats kind of what I figured, even the TSRM says to just torque them down, and then shows a hand with a wrench. Only thing I can think of is using a torque wrench with removable actual box ended wrench heads, but I'm not lucky enough to posses one quite yet. Your in Charlotte, kind of small world. Have I seen you at any of the QS meets?


You can't really use a crows foot wrench, because it changes the length of the torque wrench, and thus throws off the setting. it take some significant math to calculate the torque difference. Just hand tighten it real solid, always worked for me.:aigo:
 

sneakypete

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Jul 18, 2007
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you most definetely can use a crows foot... thats what they are made for. people use a swivel joint to torque things down all the time. if you want to be exact, the calculation to find the new torque is quite simple
 

rayall01

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sneakypete;1268771 said:
you most definetely can use a crows foot... thats what they are made for. people use a swivel joint to torque things down all the time. if you want to be exact, the calculation to find the new torque is quite simple

Not as easy as just doing it without a torque wrench, which as I stated, works every time for me, on every 7MGTE I've worked on.
 

crisp

existentialincrementalist
May 25, 2007
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rayall01;1269015 said:
Not as easy as just doing it without a torque wrench, which as I stated, works every time for me, on every 7MGTE I've worked on.


The reality is, you will have a VERY DIFFICULT TIME stretching those studs to 80-100% preload... let alone EXCEEDING that and causing an "overtorque" issue... (never heard of it on the Turbo-Ex/mani nuts!)

Torque as "tight" as you can with a wrench, and then REPEAT periodically, as you may find they "settle" after heat cycling... with the metal crush gasket and all... mine backed off ONCE and began to BLEED OFF pressure on the exhaust side! I could hear it, and it was a quick fix.:icon_bigg



PS: ANTI-SEIZE will really help SMOOTH the wrenching, and allow better clamp under less wrench torque.

-crisp
 

cmdeoro

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Jan 21, 2009
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Get in there with gear wrench and tighten them til they are snug. Your not gonna over torque it.
 
SupraMan1987;1268738 said:
Thats kind of what I figured, even the TSRM says to just torque them down, and then shows a hand with a wrench. Only thing I can think of is using a torque wrench with removable actual box ended wrench heads, but I'm not lucky enough to posses one quite yet. Your in Charlotte, kind of small world. Have I seen you at any of the QS meets?

The Supra hasn't been out in Charlotte for quite a while :( I don't even know what the QS meets are haha. Do you by chance have a white MKIII? It's one of the only unaccounted-for MKIIIs I remember seeing around Charlotte. :icon_bigg