As with anything, there is a right way to do things. In the midst of a discussion about engine-building techniques with our friends at Jim Grubbs Motorsports, we discovered that we have been torquing man caps all wrong. Most builders just run the bolts down to torque in one shot, but if you really are concerned with bearing clearance and accuracy, there’s a better way. On a typical four-bolt main cap, begin by lightly tapping the main caps in place with a rubber mallet from one side to set the corner in place and then tap down on the cap to fully seat the cap against the block. Next, install all four bolts finger tight and achieve your final torque amount in three stages. If the final torque is 75 ft-lb, start at 25, then 50, and then 75. Tighten the inner bolts first, then the outers. For LS-series engines, there is an actual procedure for all five main caps. You can follow this procedure for all engines if you prefer. This is a bit more complicated process, but it loads the main caps more evenly. Your crankshaft will thank you for the extra effort.