Based on the picture of the rod in Fastlane, it does look like it has a left hand thread.

So, o.k., maybe I should rephrase all of this and just ask whether I'm supposed to thread the rod all the way through the rod nut first and then tension the tensioner by threading the rod down through the rod not, thus tensioning the tensioner? Is that correct?

I did this job once a long time ago and I don't remember doing that? And the rod has never been sticking up through the rod nut on my car. Sooooo.....

GregS