BMR Fabrications: '05 Mustang GT -Test Bred

Horse Sense: We first came face-to-face with BMR Fabrication's products at the '04 PRI show, held in Indianapolis. The show was relocated to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, and it's contracted to remain there until at least 2010.

We like to think we have our finger on the pulse of the Mustang scene-that every tidbit of Mustang news doesn't see the light of day without going through us first. Every piece of Mustang information is sent to us so we can read it, give it our stamp of approval, and present it to the Mustang nation.

Sure, that sounds fine, but every once in a while we get caught with our doors open. Case in point: At the '04 PRI show in Indianapolis we walked through the RCA Dome perfecting our patented trade show stare when it hit us-what is BMR Fabrication (www.bmrfabrication.com), and why haven't we heard of it before?

Though the new-for-'05 Mustang was just beginning to hit the streets at the time, several manufacturers had already started rolling out new products for the car. The funny thing was, the companies debuting Mustang parts weren't your everyday Mustang parts manufacturers; they were manufacturers adding Mustang components to their existing line of available parts. Without a new F-body to play with, many manufacturers saw the light and added the Mustang to their existing product lines.

For suspension component pioneers BMR Fabrication, the S197 Mustang's chassis design made it a natural progression into another phase of production. With its third-link/Panhard-bar rear suspension system, BMR jumped to action by getting its hand on a new '05 Mustang and going to work. When the PRI show came around, the company had a full line of upper and lower control arms, subframe connectors, Panhard rods, sway bars, driveshaft loops, and a tubular radiator support. With these components hanging in BMR's booth, we stopped in our tracks. What surprised us-and embarrassed us at the same time-was BMR's location, which is only a few minutes north of our Tampa offices in Thonotosassa, Florida. When we saw BMR's 813 area code, we wondered how it had crossed under our radar when it was right under our nose, but we digress.

The '05 GT you see here is just one of the S197 Mustangs BMR has used to supplant itself into the mainstream Mustang market. The first S197 Mustang BMR had was stripped bare to turn it into a drag-radial-wearing, pushrod-power-having, turbocharger-huffing monster. This was the car BMR used for its first round of S197 chassis components. The second was Mike "The Ice Man" Zamboni's street/strip Mustang GT, which now runs in the high 9s. With Mike's car, BMR designed the lower-control-arm relocation brackets. It also provided a means of press photography and installation instructions.

With the new power on board, the suspension mods hit fast-forward with a Moser 9-inch rearend upgrade; a Detroit Locker True-Trac differential; a carbon-fiber, one-piece driveshaft; and Bogart big 'n' littles with Mickey Thompson drag radials out back. BMR and Moser worked together on the 9-inch conversion, and Moser provided two rearend housings with differing third-link mounting provisions and axle lengths. BMR made sure all the brackets were in the right spot before having the rearend powdercoated for final assembly. The driveshaft was one of the company's existing designs, but with a different yoke to mate with the 9-inch rearend. Though it was a study in trial and error, the Moser rear, with newly developed BMR components, lived in harmony under the S197's hind quarters.

With this yellow '05 GT, BMR wanted to take its development to the next level to complete its catalog. BMR's Brett Rocky actually bought the car for his wife to have something cool to cruise around in. At least that was Brett's initial idea, but that lasted about a year. Once Brett and the BMR crew put the wrenches to the car, that idea quickly ran aground.

While Brett was deciding on his first round of suspension upgrades, he sped up the performance quotient by adding a pair of Stainless Works long-tube headers and X-shape crossover, as well as a Meziere water pump. With those additions, the car picked up 17 hp before any tuning. Modular Madness then tuned the car, resulting in an overall gain of 26 hp.

In concert with the rearend development, BMR also used the yellow car to design an upper control arm to work with the Moser 9-inch, and used it to design two versions of its antiroll bar. This car was also used to design BMR's tubular K-member and tubular front control arms.

To make the suspension work worthwhile, Brett wanted more power underhood, so he began looking for a turbocharger kit immediately because of the limited availability at that time. At first Brett was considering a twin-turbo system, but the kit he was looking at wasn't compatible with BMR's subframe connectors, so he decided to stick with a single-turbo system. He chose a custom-single kit, using a Turbonetics 76mm turbo installed by Speed Inc. [(866) 571-SPEED].

Once back in Florida, the BMR crew took the car down to DiabloSport for custom tuning. Scott Behr was able to extract 420 hp to the wheels, but the stock injectors were still in place so they were upgraded to 39-lb/hr ones. DiabloSport also added GT 500 fuel pumps and harnesses. The wastegate spring was the next component to hold up progress. Scott discovered that in order to make 9 pounds of boost, the wastegate needed a 14-pound spring. Once those issues were overcome, he was able to get the turbocharged Three-Valve up to 470 hp.

With the newfound power underhood, the stock clutch wasn't cutting the mustard, so a SPEC Stage 3 clutch found a home in the bellhousing, while a revised carbon-fiber driveshaft design was slid in place at the same time.

Like every company project car, BMR's '05 Mustang GT was built to make the phone ring and grab the attention of people like us. It was used as an R&D car and to complete its product line. However, BMR sold it to focus on upcoming product lines in its stable. Two weeks after BMR sold the car, the new owner blew up the engine, kicking out a rod-continuing the development will be up to the new owner.

5.0 Tech Specs

Engine And Drivetrain

Block
Stock
Displacement
281ci
Rotating Assembly
Stock
Cams
Stock
Heads
Stock
Intake
Stock
Throttle Body
Stock
Mass Air
Granatelli Motorsports
Power Adder
Turbonetics 76mm single turbo, Speed Inc.-installed, Tial blow-off valve and wastegate, 9 pounds of boost
Fuel System
Twin GT 500 fuel pumps and harness, FRPP 39-lb/hr injectors
Exhaust
Stainless Works long-tube headers and X-shape crossover, stock after-cat
Transmission
Stock 3650 with SPEC Stage 3 clutch, BMR Fabrication carbon-fiber driveshaft
Rearend
Moser 9-inch conversion, Detroit Locker True-Trac differential, Moser 31-spline axles

Electronics

Engine Management
Stock computer, DiabloSport-tuned
Ignition
Stock
Gauges
Stock, Auto Meter boost and oil pressure

Suspension And Chassis

Front Suspension

K-member
BMR Fabrication tubular
Control arms
BMR Fabrication tubular
Struts
Stock
Springs
BMR Fabrication
Caster/Camber
Stock, BMR Fabrication camber bolts
Brakes
Stock
Wheels
Bogart D10 15x31/2-in
Tires
Mickey Thompson Street radial
Rear Suspension

Shocks
QA-1 12-way adjustable
Springs
BMR Fabrication
Control arms
BMR Fabrication
Brakes
Stock
Wheels
Bogart D10 15x10-in
Tires
Mickey Thompson drag radials 325/50
Chassis Stiffening
BMR Fabrication subframe connectors, strut tower brace, upper Panhard support, front A-arm support