Use a torque wrench in difficult places

[Anton Seelmann]

When the engine is installed or in other situations, it is a problem to use the torque wrench for example with cylinder head bolts. Here's a little tip:
1. Tighten an easily accessible screw with the desired torque.
2. Use the torque wrench to readjust a ring / open-end wrench with welded-on pick-up on this screw (step by step, starting with a setting that is certainly smaller). Usually it is a few degrees less.
3. Now tighten the screws at the problem point with the same angle.
See the following photos:

[Gonenorth]

I just use a crow's foot to get to the head bolts near the firewall. Same goes for most other tight places

[John Codman]

I remember from my ASE-certified days that if you are trying to torque a number of capscrews to an even torque, you must use exactly the same torque wrench hookup on all of the fasteners. That means that if you are using a six-inch extension on any capscrew, you must use it on all of the capscrews. If you decide that you need a flex socket and a 12" extention to tighten one difficult to access screw, you need to use the 12" extension and flex socket on all of the fasteners.

[jab35]

Anton suggests' backing off the setting' to correct for the added length. I'd say this is fine for this application, and you note Anton is keeping the 'extension' in line with the torque wrench handle, doing so simplifies the correction calculation.

With the 'extension' in line with the handle as shown, correct the torque wrench setting by the ratio of original handle length to the extended handle length, original plus length of extension, measured center of bolt to pivot point in wrench handle. If the extension adds 10% length to the handle, back off the setting 10% and proceed. It ain't rocket science and it is a model T, drive careful everyone, jb

[Walter Higgins]

Guessing on the setting is not necessary. There is a formula for this and, easier yet, a few online calculators out there:

https://belknaptools.com/extensions-calculator/

[ABoer]

I use this , special for the three bolts on the back
Toon

[Duey_C]

Thank Anton!

[Ed Fuller]

When using a crow’ foot or other adapters with a torque wrench, if you turn it 90 degrees from the handle of the wrench like this you don’t need to do any calculations.

If it is in this direction in relation to the handle, you need to calculate a lower torque setting since the adapter is adding more leverage.

If it is in this direction in relation to the handle, you need to calculate a higher torque setting since this direction is decreasing your leverage.

[Altair]

Some torque values are only addressed in the number of turns on a screw, not foot or inch pounds.
I assembled a Ford V6 with all the values in number of turns, no torque wrench was used. I checked the
assembly with a torque wrench and the values were exactly the same as with a torque wrench.