The manual says to use a stretch gauge to set connecting rod torque.
Well I don't have one of those and I'm guessing most people don't.
So what are you torquing the con rod bolts(nuts) to?
the GRS spec is 33ftlb.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new

 

That's the exact tool I have and it works like a charm.

Follow the oem specs and you'll be fine. ITR has different specs for a reason...

 

So I torqued them to 33 ftlbs. with a recently calibrated Snap On torque wrench.
I stewed over the whole thing for days and finally made myself a bolt stretch gauge on my luch hour.
I marked the nuts where they were(previously torqued to 33ftlbs.) then proceded to loosen them then torque them as per manual to a stretch of 0.005-0.006". Which is actually pretty tricky, even for an experienced mechanic.

I compared the marks that I had made previously.
All marks were within 5* of nut rotation(some tighter, some looser).

Moral of the story: 33 ftlbs is pretty damn close.