Gripping the head of the 3/8th ratchet severily limits the amount of tourque anyone can put on a bolt. I end up at 20 to 30lbs. Check one and see what you can do. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

So there you have it.  Torque wrench or not for the spark plugs in aluminum heads?  I’m sure that AFR has had issues with stripped spark plugs and not using a torque wrench was their fix for the problem.  I can see where using a ft/lb torque wrench that starts at 20 ft/lb on the scale would be an issue.  Using an inch pound 3/8” drive torque wrench would definitely add an extra level of accuracy but the majority of back yarders out there simply have a ½” drive  torque wrench with at least an 18” handle that has the potential of over-tightening in the lower torque bands.  Tightening anything in aluminum just compounds issues with stripped threads.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I'm with Chuck on handling small bolts or tightening into aluminum. Hold the wrench near the head, not on the full handle.. On really small stuff, just use the wrench with your fingers.

Paul

Watch using "Never-Sieze" on plugs. Too much will turn to carbon and you will remove the threads along with the plug.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Don't intend to hi-jack this thread but what is the best plug for a y-block, 292 heavy duty truck engine with a 2-4 set up and it is not burning all the gas, plugs are black. Right now have a set of AC in it.

Terry

Terry.  I’m assuming you posted this in the aluminum head section because you have aluminum heads.  If so, then the Autolite 3924’s would be a good start.  If you have iron heads (18mm tapered seat), then the Autolite 46’s would be a good starting point on a low compression engine.  If your AC plugs cross-over to the same number as either of these, then you potentially have too rich a fuel mixture at idle and/or at low speed which will be difficult to correct even with hotter spark plugs.  If you continue to have issues around this, feel free to start a new post in the technical section where it will get more traffic and also be more specific to your problem.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)