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THUMP RRR
RACING LLC was created
by Peter Mitas after
running into problems
with stock belt
tensioners. He got in
touch with his cousin
also Peter Mitas, at
High Precision Machine
Shop in NJ, that is in
business since 1987 with
a fully equipped state
of the art CNC and
manual machines that he
could very easily create
a prototype part.
After designing,
manufacturing and
testing the prototype
parts, we will go into
production with the CNC
machines.
THUMP RRR RACING LLC
After breaking a few
stock tensioners and
bending 2 arms of a
certain billet tensioner
I went down to New
Jersey to visit my
cousin who is a
machinist with a goal of
designing and building a
better tensioner.
With Ron (94tbird) the
broken tensioner king
living 30 minutes away I
invited him to come and
provide his input in the
design and build
process. This also
allowed us to test the
tensioner for any
fitments issues on a
Kenne Bell equipped car.
The major difference
with this tensioner over
previous attempts is
that it is designed
exclusively for the S197
without the need for
adapter plates and
custom idlers.
The design uses a stock
8 rib idler pulley which
gives you the
flexibility to change
idler diameters to fit
your needs.
The tensioner uses the
stock spring out of the
factory S197 tensioner
which will prevent
overloading of the
bearings of the various
components of the
system.
One of the improvements
made on this tensioner
is that the shaft has a
4340 hardened sleeve
press fitted on the load
bearing surface for the
needle bearings to roll
on.
After a marathon design
and build session we had
our first working
prototype completed and
tested on Sept. 23rd at
island drag way on both
Mine and Ron's cars.
After Ron split a Kenne
Bell modified tensioner
in 2 we installed the
prototype on his car for
some tough love.
Ron was able to power
shift the car for the
first time in a long
time with no belt issues
on his way to a new
personal best.
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