Honestly I was a 425 guy for years, swore it was the only way to get them crispy. But I tried a lower temp like 375 for a longer cook and it was a total game changer. The fat renders out better so the skin gets that perfect crackle without drying out the inside.

Honestly that old head's "feel" method has kept more trucks running than any manual. You gotta understand those specs are for a perfect, clean bolt in a lab. Real world stuff gets corroded, threads get tired. A guy who's done a hundred of them knows the real feel of when it's tight before it sings. Your uncle isn't wrong for new parts, but experience trumps paper for old iron.

What's the secret to cloning yourself, @hunt.eric?

Oh man, that hits home. I once drew individual screws on a duct connection. INDIVIDUAL SCREWS. My boss asked if I was planning to install them myself. It’s a hard habit to break when you start out thinking more lines mean better work. But your buddy is right, it just makes a mess nobody can read. Now I try to ask if a detail actually helps build the thing or just makes me feel thorough.