Engine Torque Wrench Specifications

I have yet to find official torque wrench specifications for the 1933 engine. I suspect that there were not any published.

For example, the Plymouth Mechanics' Repair Manual, 1933 to 1936 Cars Inclusive [NAPA 1937] describes the following for tightening the cylinder head:

Cylinder head nuts should be tightened in the order shown in Fig. 5. First run all the nuts down snug with a speed wrench. Next, tighten them fairly snug with a head nut wrench in the same order and finally go over them a third time drawing them down securely. If the same order of tightening is followed each time the nuts are tightened, danger of wrinkling the gasket or distorting the head will be avoided.

Note the lack of any numbers. There is no appendix in that manual that gives numbers either.

Torque wrench specifications do, however, follow some logic. Generally a fastener is chosen based on the amount of clamping force needed. The larger diameter of the fastener, the higher the force available (and generally desired). Since the basic design of the engine did not change for many years it is probably safe to use values from later engines and apply them to the 1933 version.

At present, I have four references for torque values on older Plymouths. These sources do not fully agree with each other as to appropriate values, so where they conflict use your judgment:

1. MoToR's Auto Repair Manual - Eighth Edition [Motor 1944]. This indicates that is is applicable for 1935-42 models and has one set of torque values for all the models in that period.
2. Plymouth Service Manual for 1936-42 Models [Chrysler 1945]. This source gives one set of numbers for all models covered.
3. Chilton's Auto Repair Manual 1940-1953 [Chilton 1953]. This sources give applicability by model code.
4. Plymouth Service Manual for 1946-54 Models [Chrysler 1953]. This source gives one set of numbers for all models covered.

My thanks to Scott Shannon for supplying me with the information from the 1944 MoToR's manual.