I borrowed a torque wrench from autozone and I am confused. My fel pro gasket torque guide is in ft-lbs and my wrench is in-lbs. Torque guide says my head gasket needs to be torqued at 86 ft-lbs, which converts to 1032 in-lbs. I can't even find a wrench that goes that high!

 

You need a ft/lb torque wrench, not in/lbs go exchange it for the correct one.

 

just did. thanks. I thought my head bolts were too loose. Holy **** I'm glad I caught that!

 

I will say the harbor freight cheapie is accurate to +/-5 lbs and worked great on my build.

 

Just finished my first rebuild at midnight! Engine is kickin!

 

I concure on the harbor freight torque wrench. I read a torque wrench shootout done by Grassroots Motorsports. It was surprisingly accurate.

 

Kobalt dropped the price on theirs about a year ago, they're the same CDI wrenches that my work pays $250+ for, are dead nuts, and stay that way (I have mine checked every six months). They are also lifetime warranty, which you aren't going to find anywhere else at that price point. IIRC the 3/8" was $40 and the 1/2" was $60... I paid $80 for the 3/8" about a two years before they dropped the price. I wish they would come out with a 1/4" drive one, my old in-lb Craftsman has bit the dust and I need a replacement.

I would keep an HF in the back of my car for changing wheels and such, but I don't super trust it in the long haul of regular use.