The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Y-block valve cover nuts

cjshaker · 06-01-2026, 10:03 PM

Valve cover gaskets compress over time, which makes the bolts/nuts loose. Pretty common on all stamped steel valve covers. The old 223's were the same, with 2 studs/nuts on the cover. Usually a re-tighten is in order after some time.

You can use an Inch Pound torque wrench if you have one, which equals 30 INCH pounds. After doing it countless times over the years though, I do it by feel, but if I had to describe it, this is what I do....I use a socket and ratchet, grasping the ratchet right up by the head, using 2 fingers and my thumb. This limits the amount of torque you're applying. Then I tighten about as much as I can, which isn't a lot when grabbing up that high on the ratchet.

06-01-2026, 10:03 PM	#4
cjshaker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Ada OH Posts: 206	Re: Y-block valve cover nuts Valve cover gaskets compress over time, which makes the bolts/nuts loose. Pretty common on all stamped steel valve covers. The old 223's were the same, with 2 studs/nuts on the cover. Usually a re-tighten is in order after some time. You can use an Inch Pound torque wrench if you have one, which equals 30 INCH pounds. After doing it countless times over the years though, I do it by feel, but if I had to describe it, this is what I do....I use a socket and ratchet, grasping the ratchet right up by the head, using 2 fingers and my thumb. This limits the amount of torque you're applying. Then I tighten about as much as I can, which isn't a lot when grabbing up that high on the ratchet.