Just got my motor back from the machine shop and it looks so pretty. LOL they did take everything off of it and im wondering what is the torque method and order for the intake? 55,65,75 any silicone needed along with the gaskets? Very stupid I know but which way should the thermostat face? How many lbs should I torque that BIG gear that the tranny and torque converter go to? This is a 73 ford maverick with a 79 302 5.0L LTD engine. Thanks for all your help so far ive gotten all the parts most of you have recommended and just waiting on my engine mounts and a few other things from autokrafters to get this mav running again.
You will need adab of ultra blue or ultra black RTV in the corners of the end gaskets. I use loctite 518 on both sides of both end gaskets (a thin .010" film) and I use the same thin film around the water passage holes on both sides of the intake gaskets. I use some threaded rod to guide the intake on the engine and then put in the four center bolts and run them down finger tight. (no tools!) put the rest of the bolts in, in an expanding circular pattern and tighten them finger tight. tighten the four center bolts to 5 foot pounds in an "X" pattern. Tighten both bolts to the rear of the center bolts to 5 foot pounds. Tighten the four center bolts to 5 foot pounds and thighten the two to the rear of the center bolts to 5 foot pounds again. tighten the two bolts toward the front of the four center bolts to 5 foot pounds. Go back and retighten all the bots you have already tightened to 5 foot pound to 5 foot pounds again. then move to the next bolts to the rear and tighten them to 5 foot pounds - retighten all the bolts you have already tightened to 5 foot pounds again. Now tighten to the next pai of bolts in front of the ones you have torqued and tighten them to 5 foot pounds. Go back and retighten all the bolts again. Continue this pattern until all the bolts are at 5 foot pounds and then do the same thing at 10 and then 20. Your intake will be tight and you will NOT have to retighten it ever.
I would suggest you go to a book store such as Barnes and Noble or one of the others and purchase the book titled "How to rebuild your small block Ford engine". This will show all the torque values and the proper rebuilding sequence.
The torque method I listed is the same as the manual except that I make sure each bolt remains torqued to the correct value in three stages - which eliminates the retorquing after a heat cycle.
Actually, very stupid would be not asking and ruining your new engine. On the thermostat, the side that has the "bridge" for lack of a better description will point towards the radiator hose.
Thank you all for your help! I have the complete maverick book for all the years. Just wasnt sure if the ltd was same as the maverick since it's made by ford and in the same era. As far as the thermostat goes the spring should be in the intake right and the thing that has the point should face the radiator hose correct? My book has crappy pictures.
When I torque any intake, I retorque it until the gaskets settle, one pass in the sequence is never enough. Start with the center bolts and work outwards and continue til the wrench clicks the instant you apply torque to the handle. One hand over the socket end of the wrench and the other on the outer end. The advice about buying a book is an excellant idea. I've got several books on Ford engines, onething you'll find with having more than one book is you'll find that not everything in these books is 100% accurate. Most of it is, but you will find conflicting info. A "Motor Repair Manual" is about THE best book you'll ever spend money on. I have one for 1964 to 1970 and the info there is priceless.
I did a search on Amazon and 2 authors names came up having written a couple of books on rebuilding sbf's "Tom Monroe" & "George Reid". Anyone have experience with their books?
I didn't read both books but I did thumb through them. George's book has color pictures,Tom's didn't. I used Tom Monroe's book back in the early 70's on my first rebuild and the engine did start up with no problem. I have "High Performance FORD Engine Parts Interchange" by George Reid and it is full of good information. If his put this much info in his rebuild book then it shoud be just as good as Tom's book.
Reid's book is chock full of mistakes, but it's a good read and most of the info is accurate,(just not all). I'd go with "How to Rebuild Your Small Block Ford" for starters. I've never read it, but haven't seen any negative comments about it. Another good-un is "Ford Performance" by Pat Ganahl. The info there is about as accurate as you'll find anywhere, only drawback is he usually lists part numbers, not the actual casting numbers found on the part. If you want up to date info on the 79-2001 5.0's the best place to find it is "The Official Ford Mustang 5.0" by Al Kirschenbaum put out by Ford Racing.
