TracTuff 3/8″ Tensioner Upgrade

Description

My K Series water pump delete has found its way onto some pretty serious race cars… and serious race cars push the limits of parts!

The alternator mounting brackets have gone through four or five changes over the years, but the tensioner has never seen an upgrade. The main reason the tensioner uses 5/16″ rod-ends is so that it is compatible with the early B series alternators; originally, the go-to alternator. Now that most of my customers are using S2000 alternators and the S2000 alternators have larger mounting holes… the option to use larger rod-ends is now limited by the billet plate and its design to use 5/16″ mounting hardware.

With a little research, I have found a 3/8″ rod-end with a 5/16″ through hole, allowing me to sell you guys the 3/8″ stuff I have on the shelf for the F20C/ F22C water pump delete. All you have to do is modify the rod-end to fit inside the billet plate tensioner window (see below).

NOTE: The original K Series tensioner turnbuckle is 3.25″ long, and the 3/8″ turnbuckle in this kit is only 2.25″ long. The fully collapsed original 5/16″ tensioner assembly has a center-to-center length of 4.75″, whereas the 3/8″ upgrade tensioner assembly has a center-to-center length of 4.10″. This may require you to change belts depending on where the tensioner adjustment sits.

Grind the rod-end as the red lines show below.