It is just a number - but it is a variable. If the units used are ib.in it is 37.69. If they are lb.ft, it is 3.140885 (which is not quite pi).
As torque is usually measured in lb.ft (or Nm), the answer is probably 3.14. I have seen it quoted as lb.in, but as the lb was on one line in the text and the in on the next line, I misread it and tightened the tensioner up 12 times too tight, so eventually the belt snapped and buggered up the valves and pistons.
