SBC 4 Bolt Main Cap Torque Sequence
You dont need to memorise all the torque sequence and other specs. But you need a source like this article to help you when you need it.
So what’s the SBC 4 bolt main cap torque sequence? You need to start from the middle of all the bolts surrounded by big circles. Later on, slowly walk your way through the outer areas. However, the sequence is not in any order but random. Thus, certainly need a diagram to help you through it.
Before we dig in deep with the sequences, the specs are equally important. Thus, before you apply any random turns to the bolts, we will look at the specs. It will show you how much torque you need to set it to. Here it is;
Component | Torque Spec | Thread Lubricant |
Bell Housing (Flywheel Housing) | 30 ft-lbs | Engine Oil |
Camshaft Sprocket | 20 ft-lbs | Thread Locker |
Clutch Pressure Plate | 35 ft-lbs | Thread Locker |
Connecting Rod Caps (3/8) | 45 ft-lbs | Engine Oil |
Connecting Rod Caps (11/32) | 45 ft-lbs | Engine Oil |
Cylinder Heads | 65 ft-lbs | Sealant |
Exhaust Manifold | 20 ft-lbs | Anti-seize |
Flexplate | 60 ft-lbs | Thread Locker |
Flywheel | 60 ft-lbs | Thread Locker |
Flywheel Housing Cover | 80 in-lbs | Engine Oil |
Intake Manifold | 30 ft-lbs | Anti-seize |
Main Bearing Caps (inner) | 70 ft-lbs | Engine Oil |
Main Bearing Caps (outer) | 65 ft-lbs | Engine Oil |
Oil Filter By-pass Valve | 80 in-lbs | Engine Oil |
Oil Pan (5/16-18) | 165 in-lbs | Engine Oil |
Oil Pan (1/4-20) | 80 in-lbs | Engine Oil |
Rocker Studs (screw in) | 50 ft-lbs | Sealant |
Spark Plugs | 22 ft-lbs | Dry |
Timing Cover | 72 in-lbs | Engine Oil |
Valve Covers | 45 in-lbs | Engine Oil |
Water Pump | 30 ft-lbs | Sealant |
What Is Bolt Torque Sequence?
Bolt tightening sequences is when a pattern of bolts is tightened to the necessary tension. To lessen the amount of pre-load lost in a bolt as a result of elastic interactions, the bolts are tightened in a symmetrical pattern. Typically, a torque wrench is used to apply torque to a bolt.
A bolt that has pre-load stretches develops tension as a result. The compressive force imposed on the materials in the bolted joint is balanced by the pre-load, which is a force opposite to that. Consequently, it is crucial for preserving stability in bolted joints.
Why Are These Sequences Crucial?
To prevent the loss of pre-load in the bolt, we adopt a tightening procedure. The bolt will loosen if pre-load is dropped, which might result in a damaging failure. Different temperature expansions between the bolt and the joint might cause a loss of preload among other processes.
However, bringing together non-flat surfaces can be a very difficult torque problem because many junctions involve more than one fastener. That results in preload and clamping force, which is what holds two components together. And this can be significantly influenced by the order in which bolts are tightened.
Moreover, consideration should be paid to defining the order in which the screws are to be tightened with such joints. Due to the compression of the joint surfaces, tightening a bolt close to another will change the preload created by the first joint that was tightened.
Consequences Of A Low/High Torque
The torque sequence plays a significant role in whether your torques are perfect or low/excess. If you are in the perfect spot, you will love the ride overall. However, if there is even a slight bit of change in the torque that makes it imperfect, you will suffer a ton. Here’s what they look like;
Low Torque
Engines in motion frequently vibrate. You can be certain that the bolt will withstand the weight of the belt and any “hits” to the mass of the engine. When you apply just the right amount of tightening power, this will absorb them.
The stud or bolt absorbs the majority of the force when there is insufficient torque, which causes it to shear.
As an alternative, the tensioner could be moved by the loosening of the bolt or nut caused by the engine’s vibrations. This will eventually lead to improper belt tension, engine damage, and belt damage.
High Torque
Meanwhile, the screw thread of the appropriate bolt or nut can also be damaged due to high torque. Also, that may cause damage to the bearing and synthetic fiber or polyester in some tensioners or idler pulleys.
Furthermore, the screw thread in the aluminum engine block will sustain irreparable damage if this happens, say with an aluminum cylinder head, making it difficult to restore the necessary clamping load.
SBC 4 Bolt Main Cap Torque Sequence
Now that you know the significance of balanced torque, it’s time to learn about the 4 main cap torque sequences in the SBC. The references we are going to explain will be intimidating at first but certainly giving it a second read would make things a lot easier. So let’s start.
There will be 8 large circles with surrounding bolts that are waiting to be balanced when you reach the torque fixing area. They are arranged around the rings in a pentagonal pattern. We can therefore state that there are 5 bolts arranged in a pentagonal pattern around 2 circles.
The center of the eight rings is where you want to begin hitting first. There is only one bolt to be found there. To give it the ideal shape, just follow the spec table.
Above the first bolt you just tightened, on the right, is the second point you should grab hold of. Later, pay attention to the bolts that are arranged in a straight line at the bottom side. The fourth bolt has to be fixed, counting from the right. Once finished, proceed to the bolt on the left side that is adjacent to it.
From this point, the explanation gets way more difficult for you to understand and is easier if a diagram is presented. Therefore, we decided to provide a simple diagram that will help you understand the next moves better. Here it is;

Just follow the numbers and you should be able to achieve the perfect torque with ease.
Conclusion
To conclude, that was all you needed to know about SBC 4 bolt main cap torque sequence and its specs. Yes, if you don’t know the basics, it will be difficult for you to understand them first. However, once you go through us again and the diagram that we provided, everything shall come easier.
On the other hand, it’s worth the trouble. Your engine will be living with a shorter lifespan and certainly provide a performance that is unsatisfactory.
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