i want to buy a k-member for 13

[wbt]

Just saw your pics wbt. Would be a little safer if your rack mounting bolts had the heads on top of the rack. Juuuuuust in case they loosen, you won't drop them out the bottom.

I mounted them the way I did to eliminate the nut/bolt hanging down and potentially hanging up on my trailer, etc. (although it probably doesn't matter much). The nuts are nylon locking and I haven't had any issues with them backing off.

 

[BMR Tech]

Here is a response from Mark Mainiero, my boss. He's not on the forum so I'm posting it for him.

Cliff's notes- there's something unusual going on with this situation Kelly posted about. We have quite a few UPR k-members out there on Coyote cars with no fitment issues whatsoever.

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First of all I want to say that at UPR, we do not bash our competitors. With that being said, it appears obvious to me that there is much more to this story, from vested interests to altered parts. Furthermore, any claim by someone outside of our company of UPR receiving numerous complaints is fabricated and ludicrous.

Most importantly, we want to share our own findings, as we investigate every concern that customers relate to us. Today (Friday), after speaking to this same individual whom Kelly spoke to, we removed the k-member from our 2011 5.0 Mustang (which fit fine with the EPAS system) and installed that same k-member in our 2013 5.0 Mustang. We used this approach to eliminate any claims that our production tolerances varied, although we use very secure welding jigs and check every finished k-member in yet another jig.

We found that the oil pan was just touching the steering rack. A quick fix would be to raise the engine 1/4 inch, but that created the potential for hood clearance issues and was not considered. We chose to machine the spacers that raise our rack down .200". That gave us adequate clearance and changed the rack angle by less than 1%. And, as has already been posted, the majority of installations are seamless.

As we have sold thousands of our chrome-moly k-members over the last 16 years, we have run into every possible scenario. Usually it is on a Fox Body that has been in an accident or has mixed year components. Very often it is a customer or even a shop that attempts an installation which they are not capable of doing. And there is no doubt that production variances or wear are factors too. But this is the first time we encountered production or assembly variances in an S197. Already, we have a great number of S197 k-members installed without problem, but we will implement the shorter rack spacers in future kits as this accommodates the variances.

We have been building and racing Mustangs since 1968. Our products have a Lifetime Guarantee. And we rely on our own in-house racers as well as our Team UPR racers & customers to develop and refine our parts. This is the first time we've seen someone mangle one of our parts and use that part in an attempt to discredit us. But we won't stoop to that level or engage in forum debates. Our Social Media Manager Sharad Raldiris and our Sales Manager Tony Whetstone are both always available to resolve any issue.

We remain very, very appreciative of all our great customers and racers. We will continue to provide the very best customer service possible at every opportunity. And we will let our products, not our keyboards, do our talking.

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For reference, here's a quick shot of the UPR k-member we installed on our 13 GT, and you can see the rack spacers which we changed from .500" to .300":

Thank you for posting this response from Mark, Sharad. Please forward mine back to Mr. Maniero.

Mr. Maniero,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will keep it short and to the point. I will respond to the statements from you, that I feel need a response.

Altered is correct. From the moment you (UPR) installed a K-Member on your S197 with a Hellion kit, until this current moment - your K-Member does not allow clearance for the Hellion Single Turbo Kit. JDM had to modfy the Hellion Piping to clear your K-Member, quite some time ago. It is not uncommon for UPR K-Members, and older style BMR K-Members to need modification to that passenger side gusset. Surely you are not insinuating that the front rack bar clearance, was done outside of UPR?

As for complaints about our competitors products - are you implying that I am lying? If so, you are sadly mistaken. I am not sure how much you know about our operation, but, there is no other company who manufacturers the level of components for the S197, as we do. With that, comes my support for thousands of customers who run many other components, other than BMR. I am sure the opposite can be said, about BMR. That's just how it goes.

Engine height and Rack Clearance. Correct, the rack can come into contact with the oil pan, when dropping the engine down 1/2"...or if the rack is higher than the factory position. Unfortunately, I am not following you about your machined spacers. I get the jist, but with a BMR K-Member..it is as easy as installing the K-Member and going about your day. No spacers, or figuring anything out - plug and play. As a matter of fact, every single Shelby S1000 that rolls out of Shelby American's shop, has our 1/2" engine drop K-Member for EPAS cars...and they fit fine. The clearance is close, but they fit. That said, are you ensuring that the rear 3rd rack mounting point is "jiving" with these various spacer arrangements on the front (2) rack heights? I recommend using a factory K-Member to ensure everything is "proper" on your piece, it does wonders.

As far as "stooping" - you (UPR) blatantly copied the BMR K-Member....and even the unique BMR engine mounting system - THEN you stoop as far as claiming it is "6lbs lighter than the competition". I made this post primarily to show that K-Member for K-Member, your product is not even close to being 6lbs lighter. Yes, I know you can claim someone else is your competition.....but, we all know the truth, sir.

Out of respect for your response, I have removed the photos showing the clearanced front rack bar. In exchange, I ask that you change your claim of 6lbs lighter - as I have posted clear evidence that, that information is far from correct. Surely you consider the product that you copied, your primary competition. Look at all of the threads comparing the two.

Lastly, although I have removed the photos, there is still this little tid-bit about your K-Member online:

http://levitaylor.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/new-upr-k-member-installed/

Even the above article states that he wishes the product would have fit better. I know, there must be a motive.

Again, thanks for your response.

Kelly

 

[irishpwr46]

in for the lulz

 

[Sharad]

The jist of this letter leads me to believe that UPR is claiming to never of clearanced a tube on a s197 k member.

Just so I have it right is it correct that UPR has never modified an s197 tube for clearance of the epas?

I was actually going to reference one of the photos which Kelly removed. (of the modified k-member) I'll snap a pic of our coyote k-member and post it up tomorrow.

 

[BMR Tech]

I was actually going to reference one of the photos which Kelly removed. (of the modified k-member) I'll snap a pic of our coyote k-member and post it up tomorrow.

Sharad, why don't you reference this one?

http://levitaylor.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/new-upr-k-member-installed/

Apparently he got a modified version too....

 

[skwerl]

 

[Bullett]

Gone for a minute and I miss this. Bmr ftw

 

[Sharad]

Sharad, why don't you reference this one?

http://levitaylor.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/new-upr-k-member-installed/

Apparently he got a modified version too....

Yeah, that's actually the pic I was talking about. I believe they're all like that now. I'll investigate.

But the modification Mark was talking about was over by the EPAS mount, IIRC.

 

[BMR Tech]

The only mod to the K was a removed gusset that I clearly explained in my original post about the comparison. Not sure why that would upset anyone? Google Hellion Turbo Kit with BMR K-Member, and you'll likely see the OG BMR piece modded similar.

Clearly everyone in the thread, including myself.....are all on a different level of thought (page) than you guys (upr). The modification to the front rack bar, that I reference being whacked....is clearly shown in the picture above, and was shown in my pictures that I removed.

So you guys DO clearance that front rack bar on your K members.

Mark was upset because I showed a modded area (removed gusset) that I clearly explained....I see now.

 

[LAStang1234]

Wow, this killed my lunch break!

 

[BMR Tech]

Here. Boxed red area - this is what people are wondering about, Sharad. Nobody cares about the modifications done to clear the Hellion Piping...so please let Mr. Maniero know that. I covered the modded areas, so I am not accused of trying to slander the product...lol

 

[wbt]

So we "may" have an independent source who claims a 25lbs. weight savings with the BMR k-member:
http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...-k-member-install-lots-pics.html#post13711995

It's not clear if the comparisons were done bolt-to-bolt against what was swapped out.

Recap of my measurements:
http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1815342&postcount=81

 

[BMR Tech]

Interesting.

 

[SSPSTANGBANGER]

I just put one of the UPR k-members with the "hacked/modified front bar"
I think there is a issue with the jig because on my 383.2mile 2014 GT the K-member didn't fit flush to the frame rails. It hit the front mount and back mount but the second main bolt on each side was 1/4' from touching the frame rail and the rear mounts had to be squeezed inward to get the bolts in the rear mounts. I was able to pull the k-member up flush with the bolts but it was definitely off.
I have had many UPR k-members and never had a issue like this on their products before.

It is a issue I think needs to be addressed in future k-members

No I didn't take a pic but I have installed at least 50 UPR k-members in everything from a Fox-S197 and have never had one alignment issue like this before.

 

[BMR Tech]

Interesting.

Could have just been pulled off the jig too soon.

 

[onebadgsx]

I just put one of the UPR k-members with the "hacked/modified front bar"
I think there is a issue with the jig because on my 383.2mile 2014 GT the K-member didn't fit flush to the frame rails. It hit the front mount and back mount but the second main bolt on each side was 1/4' from touching the frame rail and the rear mounts had to be squeezed inward to get the bolts in the rear mounts. I was able to pull the k-member up flush with the bolts but it was definitely off.
I have had many UPR k-members and never had a issue like this on their products before.

It is a issue I think needs to be addressed in future k-members

No I didn't take a pic but I have installed at least 50 UPR k-members in everything from a Fox-S197 and have never had one alignment issue like this before.

Bmr.....