93 Ranger thermostat housing bolt torque

[sahoops]

Hey! Anybody know the torque setting for the thermostat housing bolts for a 93 Ranger 4.0 L? The thermostat has the rubber seal around the edge of it.

 

[Maniak]

Those are m8 bolts and won't take much. My book shows 14-21 ft lbs as the proper spec. I just palm or push about 1-2" from down the handle on my 1/4 drive ratchet...

~Mark

 

[1Aauto]

welcome to the site

 

[sahoops]

Thanks Mark! This one has 3 m10 bolts. I saw a spec of 89 inch lbs but that didn't sound like much for the pressure going thru there. I've never changed one that has the rubber seal on it though. They always had the paper gasket. I did notice that it didn't take much torque at all to get the bolts out. You say 1-2" on the handle. Is that after finger tight?

 

[Maniak]

Thanks Mark! This one has 3 m10 bolts. I saw a spec of 89 inch lbs but that didn't sound like much for the pressure going thru there. I've never changed one that has the rubber seal on it though. They always had the paper gasket. I did notice that it didn't take much torque at all to get the bolts out. You say 1-2" on the handle. Is that after finger tight?

Yup.. It doesn't take much torque to keep it sealed.

Its more important to tighten it evenly. If you don't you can crack the housing. Also, if you put too much torque on those bolts you can pull the threads out (yes, I've done that already)..

~Mark

 

[sahoops]

Thanks again Mark! That worked fine.

 

[sahoops]

By the way. To anyone who might have stripped threads on the block for the thermostat housing bolt: ( the lower bolt hole on mine was stripped) I took the housing back off and inserted the bolt into just the block. The bolt tightened up snug to the block so the bolt hole is threaded about 1/4 inch deeper than the stock bolt length. With the housing being prx 1/4" thick only a little more than half of the stock bolt threads are being utilized. That gives you prx 1/2" of undamaged threads in there! Awesome! Hardware store, m10 bolt 1/4 to 3/8 inch longer than stock bolt, blue locktite, 50 cents, done. No drilling and tapping!!!!! (Locktite? Insurance for the slight loss of thread depth.)

 

[gdavis603]

Sahoops, your suggestion of using longer bolt is the best advice I've had all week. It worked great!