Technical Experienced engine builders of SBC’s - need your advice!

I meant the seal surface , sorry ...

 

We need to have a discussion about tool tolerances. Your torque wrench (assuming generic clicker style) probably on it's best day will have about a +/- 5 ft-lbs swing. In other words, set the thing at 73 ft-lbs, and you will probably have one bolt at 78, another at 68, and the rest some where in between.

On top of that, torque is a really, really shitty way to estimate what we really want to control and that is the clamp load generated by tightening the bolt. Very small changes in surface finish, coating, manufacturing tolerances, lubrication, etc can produce dramatic swings in clamp load just due to the way that friction between the bolt and threads is affected.

In other words, don't get too hung up on 5 ft-lbs.

 

Growing up @ a track Drag & Round
In pit's seen & done many fix's ,
Seen several times Crank polishing
With sometimes cranks in block , cylinder honing ,
Farm fix , even drill bits for missing rollers in bearings .

 

if you go to a nhra national event you can check your torque wrench at the arp tent display