Installing Steel Con-rods, torque or stretch?

Question:

Which is the best way to installing steel con-rods, using a torque wrench or stretch gauge?

Answer:

Using a stretch gauge is the best way to get the bolt to the correct length. When doing a torque setting for a bolt, the way this is worked out is to take a bolt, lubricate it with the type of lubricant you are intending on using, slowly tightening the bolt until the desired stretch is reached. Then recording the torque setting used to reach this stretch. This is a fairly accurate way to achieve the correct stretch. But obviously the best way to get the bolt to the correct length is by measuring it, so a stretch gauge is always the correct way to do it and use the best lubricant. We always use stretch gauges here.

We stock an ARP Steel Body Stretch Gauge, RB-STRETCH-G-02.