1968 Mustang & Cougar Torque Specs: Engine & Suspension

Factory recommended torque specs for the 1968 Mustang and Cougar, plus the Falcon, Fairlane and Montego. It covers the engine, steering and front suspension, including head bolts, connecting rods, main caps, ball joints and tie rod ends. Values are in foot-pounds (ft-lb) unless marked.

Use caution. These values were copied from the factory specs, and a copying mistake is possible. Check each value against a factory service manual before tightening. Aftermarket bolts and studs have their own specs.

Engine

The 428 Cobra Jet isn't listed.

Cylinder heads and valve train

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390	427
Head bolts, step 1Factory name: Cylinder Head Bolts (Step 1)Tighten all the bolts to step 1, then step 2, then step 3.	55	50	70	70
Head bolts, step 2Factory name: Cylinder Head Bolts (Step 2)	65	60	80	80
Head bolts, step 3Factory name: Cylinder Head Bolts (Step 3)	70–75	65–72	80–90	80–90
Rocker shaft support boltsFactory name: Valve Rocker Shaft Support To Cylinder Head	30–35	Not listed	40–45	40–45
Valve cover boltsFactory name: Valve Rocker Arm Cover	3–5	3–5	4–7	4–7

Manifolds

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390	427
Intake manifold boltsFactory name: Manifolds To Cylinder Head (Intake)	Not listed	20–22	32–35	32–35
Exhaust manifold boltsFactory name: Manifolds To Cylinder Head (Exhaust)The manual's table prints 18–24 for the 390, with a footnote giving 15–20 for the Fairlane, Montego, Mustang and Cougar.	13–18	15–20	15–20	18–24

Crankshaft, rods and flywheel

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390	427
Main cap boltsFactory name: Main Bearing Cap Bolts	60–70	60–70	95–105	95–105
Main cap cross bolts, step 1Factory name: 427 Main Bearing Cross Bolts (Step 1)Tighten all the cross bolts to step 1, then step 2.	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	20
Main cap cross bolts, step 2Factory name: 427 Main Bearing Cross Bolts (Step 2)	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	40
Connecting rod nuts	19–24	19–24	40–45	53–58
Harmonic balancer boltFactory name: Damper Or Pulley To Crankshaft	85–100	70–90	70–90	70–90
Flywheel boltsFactory name: Flywheel To Crankshaft	75–85	75–85	75–85	75–85

Camshaft and timing cover

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390	427
Cam sprocket boltFactory name: Camshaft Sprocket To Camshaft	35–45	40–45	35–45	35–45
Cam thrust plate boltsFactory name: Camshaft Thrust Plate In Block	12–15	6–9	12–15	12–15
Timing cover boltsFactory name: Cylinder Front Cover	7–9	12–15	12–15	12–15

Cooling and fuel

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390	427
Water pump boltsFactory name: Water Pump To Cylinder Block Or Front Cover	12–15	12–15	20–25	20–25
Thermostat housing boltsFactory name: Water Outlet Housing	12–15	12–15	12–15	12–15
Distributor vacuum control valve	15–18	15–18	15–18	15–18
Fuel pump boltsFactory name: Fuel Pump To Cylinder Block Or Cylinder Front Cover	12–15	20–25	20–25	20–25

Oil pan, oil pump and filter

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390	427
Oil pan boltsFactory name: Oil Pan To Cylinder BlockOn the 289 and 302, the 1/4 in. bolts are 7–9.	7–9	9–11	9–11	9–11
Oil drain plugFactory name: Oil Pan Drain Plug	15–20	15–20	15–20	15–20
Oil pump boltsFactory name: Oil Pump To Cylinder Block	12–15	23–28	20–25	20–25
Oil pump cover plate	6–9	9–12	6–9	6–9
Oil pickup tube to pumpFactory name: Oil Inlet Tube To Oil Pump	12–15	12–15	12–15	12–15
Oil filter adapter to blockFactory name: Oil Filter Adapter To Cylinder Block	10–15	60–100	12–15	12–15

Thermactor (smog pump)

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200, 289, 302, 390, 427
Air manifold to cylinder headFactory name: Air Manifold To Cylinder Head—Thermactor	14–16
Check valve to air manifold or supply tubeFactory name: Check Valve To Air Manifold Or Supply Tube—Thermactor	16–19
Air pump adjusting arm to pumpFactory name: Adjusting Arm To Air Pump—Thermactor	30
Air pump mounting boltsFactory name: Air Pump Mounting Bolts—Thermactor	23–28
Air pump pulley to hubFactory name: Air Pump Drive Pulley To Pump Hub—Thermactor	7–11

Engine mounts, Mustang and Cougar

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	200	289, 302	390, 427
Motor mount to engineFactory name: Front Insulator to Engine	Not listed	25–40	Not listed
Motor mount bracket to engineFactory name: Front Support Insulator Bracket to Engine	18–24	Not listed	35–50
Motor mount bracket to motor mountFactory name: Front Support Insulator Bracket to Insulator	Not listed	Not listed	45–60
Motor mount to support bracketFactory name: Front Insulator to Support Bracket	Not listed	35–50	35–50
Motor mount to mounting bracketFactory name: Front Insulator to Mounting Bracket	25–35	Not listed	Not listed
Support bracket to mounting bracket	Not listed	20–30	20–30
Mounting bracket to frame	20–30	20–30	20–30
Front crossmember to frameFactory name: Crossmember Assembly to Frame	45–60	45–60	Not listed
Rear support to transmissionFactory name: Rear Support Assembly to Transmission	Not listed	Not listed	30–42
Transmission mount to transmission, manualFactory name: Insulator Assembly to Transmission (Standard)	20–30	20–30	Not listed
Transmission mount to transmission, automaticFactory name: Insulator Assembly to Transmission (Automatic)	30–42	30–42	Not listed
Transmission mount to crossmemberFactory name: Insulator to Crossmember	25–35	25–35	Not listed
Rear support to crossmemberFactory name: Rear Support Assembly to Crossmember	Not listed	Not listed	25–35
Transmission crossmember to frame	10–20	10–20	10–20

Engine mounts, Falcon, Fairlane and Montego

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200	289, 302	390, 427
Motor mount to engineFactory name: Front Insulator to Engine	Not listed	Not listed	35–50
Motor mount bracket to motor mountFactory name: Front Support Insulator Bracket to Insulator	18–25	Not listed	Not listed
Motor mount to support bracketFactory name: Front Insulator to Support Bracket	24–34	Not listed	45–60
Support bracket to mounting bracket	Not listed	Not listed	45–60
Support bracket to crossmember	20–30	20–30	Not listed
Transmission mount to transmission, manualFactory name: Insulator Assembly to Transmission (Standard)	30–60	30–60	30–60
Transmission mount to transmission, automaticFactory name: Insulator Assembly to Transmission (Automatic)	30–60	30–60	30–60
Transmission mount to crossmemberFactory name: Insulator to Crossmember	25–35	25–35	25–35
Transmission crossmember to frame	50–70	50–70	50–70

Bolts not listed above

By thread size, for engine bolts the tables above don't list. Where a table above lists a bolt, its value takes priority.

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb) by engine
Fastener	170, 200, 289, 302, 390, 427
1/4-20	6–9
1/4-28	6–9
5/16-18	12–15
5/16-24	15–18
3/8-16	23–28
3/8-24	30–35
7/16-14	45–50
7/16-20	50–60
1/2-13	60–70
1/2-20	70–80
9/16-18	85–95
5/8-18	130–145

Steering

Tie rods

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Outer tie rod end nutFactory name: Steering Tie Rod End to Spindle ArmTorque to 30, then tighten to the next cotter pin slot.	30–40	30–40
Inner tie rod end nutFactory name: Steering Tie Rod to Center LinkTorque to 30, then tighten to the next cotter pin slot.	30–40	30–40
Tie rod adjusting sleeve clampFactory name: Spindle Connecting Rod Clamp to Adjusting Sleeve	10–14	10–14

Pitman arm, idler arm and center link

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Pitman arm nutFactory name: Pitman Arm to Sector Shaft	150–225	150–225
Center link to pitman arm nutFactory name: Pitman Arm to Center Link Attaching NutTorque to 35, then tighten to the next cotter pin slot.	35–47	35–47
Center link to idler arm nutFactory name: Idler Arm to Center LinkTorque to 60, then tighten to the next cotter pin slot.	60–80	60–80
Idler arm bracket to frameFactory name: Idler Arm Mounting Bracket to Underbody or Frame	28–35	28–35

Steering box

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Steering box to frameFactory name: Steering Gear to Side Rail or Frame	50–65	50–65

Power steering

These are only on cars with power steering: the control valve and power cylinder on the steering linkage.

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Control valve to pitman arm nutFactory name: Pitman Arm to Control Valve (Power Steering)Torque to 35, then tighten to the next cotter pin slot.	35–47	35–47
Power cylinder bracket to frame, side holeFactory name: Cylinder Mounting Bracket to Underbody or Frame (Side Hole)	28–35	28–35
Power cylinder bracket to frame, bottom holeFactory name: Cylinder Mounting Bracket to Underbody or Frame (Bottom Hole)	35–43	35–43
Power cylinder to bracket	18–24	18–24
Power cylinder to bracket lock nut	3–5	3–5

Front suspension

Control arms and ball joints

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Upper control arm shaft to bodyFactory name: Upper Arm and Inner Shaft to Body	75–100	75–100
Lower control arm to underbodyFactory name: Lower Arm to Underbody	75–100	75–100
Ball joint to spindle nut, upper and lowerFactory name: Ball Joint to Spindle (Upper and Lower)	60–90	60–90

Springs, shocks and bump stops

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Spring seat to upper control armFactory name: Spring Seat to Upper Arm	30–40	30–40
Shock absorber upper attachment	20–28	10–15
Shock absorber upper bracket to body	15–25	18–30
Shock absorber to spring seat	8–12	8–12
Bump stop to bodyFactory name: Front Suspension Compression Bumper to Body	12–17	12–17

Strut rods and sway bar

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Strut rod to lower control armFactory name: Strut to Lower Arm	75–105	75–105
Strut rod to underbodyFactory name: Strut to Underbody	60–80	60–80
Strut rod to underbody slotted nutFactory name: Strut to Underbody Slotted Nut	50–70	50–70
Sway bar bracket to underbodyFactory name: Stabilizer Bar Mounting Bracket to Underbody	17–25	17–25
Sway bar to lower control armFactory name: Stabilizer Bar to Lower Arm	5–10	5–10

Brakes and wheel bearings

Fastener	Torque (ft-lb)
Fastener	Montego, Falcon, Fairlane	Mustang, Cougar
Caliper to spindle, upper boltFactory name: Caliper to Spindle (Disc Brake) - UpperDisc brakes only	110–120	110–120
Caliper to spindle, lower boltFactory name: Caliper to Spindle (Disc Brake) - LowerDisc brakes only	60–70	60–70
Brake backing plate to spindle	28–42	28–42
Front wheel bearing adjusting nutSeats the bearings, then the nut is backed off. Follow the wheel bearing steps.	17–25	17–25

Front wheel bearing adjustment

Torquing the adjusting nut seats the bearings, then the nut is backed off, so its torque isn't where the nut ends up. To adjust them:

Torque the adjusting nut to 17–25 ft-lb.
Fit the nut lock so its castellations line up with the cotter pin hole in the spindle.
Back off the adjusting nut and nut lock together to the next castellation that lines up with the hole.

Using these values

Most factory specs are a range, a low and a high limit.

The factory engine values are for threads oiled with light engine oil, except threads that take sealer. A dry thread, or one with a slicker lube, clamps differently at the same torque.

Nuts held by a cotter pin are torqued to the low limit first, then tightened further to the next slot that lines up with the cotter pin hole. Don't back one off to line up a slot. The front wheel bearing adjusting nut is the one exception: it's backed off on purpose, as its steps above say.

Each fastener is listed by the name it usually goes by, with its factory name underneath where that's different.

Each column is a group of cars, or of engines in the engine tables. A dash means no factory spec is listed.

The values here come only from the 1968 specs. Other years have their own pages, like 1970. Many fasteners carried over, but some changed, so no year's values are filled in from another's.

If a value here doesn't match your manual, and we'll check it.

1968 Mustang and Cougar Torque Specifications