Anyone using Blue Thunder heads & Intakes ?

[FUNFER2]

Anyone using Blue Thunder heads and maybe his intakes ?
I can't find much information here in my searching.

What I have found, is his intakes (not clear with which type) are supposed to be around 360-400 cfm on the bench.

Likes Harland Sharpe and T & D.
Oiled (hollow) push rods.
Uses time sert's and not helicoils in threads. (I agree)
Up to 850 !..... spring pressure. (ah,.....I don't know about that) lol
38-40 deg. timing.

Need more owners of these products for your thoughts, machining and detailed information please.

[PurpleVenom]

Not a lot of info here. You can find quite a bit at the other Co$ra forum. I'm very interested in adding this to my engine, so will follow this thread for feedback. I'm limited on deck height to fit it under the hood.

[OZCOBRA]

See the post on (44yr old cobra wins...)In it Cobra #3170 says he uses Blue Thunder raised port ..

I'll give you the short version, engine is Shelby FE block, Blue Thunder raised port heads (it only needs 29 D. advance at peak power), MSD, Carrillo rods, Victor jr. manifold- highly modified, Ti Valves, 14.7 to 1, 1650 cfm Throttle body, seq. EFI really big roller cam, peak power 7600 peak torque 5500, headers are 2 1/8 primary 3.5 collectors. This engine has a Daley dry sump and Stefs tank and never leaks oil as long as it is running (13" of vacuum) CID = 498 with a Moldex billet crank. Engine by Kinetics in Michigan

[Clois Harlan]

I have the Blue Thunder intake on my 427 and to be honest I am not as happy with it as I was my medium riser. I wish I had my old intake back.

Clois

[Bobcat]

Clois ... my experience is just the opposite of yours . On my 427 Galaxie , I went with the BT dual quad to fit the 428 CJ heads and picked up throughout the whole rpm range . Maybe because the Galaxie weighs 4100 lbs or I don`t have as big a cam as you ??
FF2 ... if you use the BT heads , it will raise the exhaust ports up and then you will have to rework your primaries/sidepipes to get them to fit the body .

[FUNFER2]

Your kidding ?
Is the situation with his F.E. large. bore High Riser O.E. Cyl. Head, or just the high raiser's ? Maybe it's just the tunnel port ?

[Bobcat]

Kevin ... you might want to check with BT or someone who sells them , but when I was doing research for my build , I wanted to use the BT heads . I asked Peter at ERA if any of his customers used those heads . He checked and said , yes , but the ports were raised approx. 1/4" to 3/8" and the headers/primaries had to be modified to fit the ERA body cutouts etc .
Again , check with someone else , but that was my experience .
Bob

[FUNFER2]

I've tried calling BT today, but they must be out of the office.

I would think their OEM and the Edelbrock would be the same as the originals head., and the high risers being the taller ones. I hope....anyway.

With my original 428 build I used the RPM manifold, when I change to the Vic Jr. intake, I had to mill down the carb. surface, either 1/4 or 3/8". (can't recall) I really don't know if that changed the TQ too much.

So, I'm concerned and will talk it over with Al at Blue Thunder.

[65cobraking]

Phone Barry @Survival (248) 366-3309 or (248) 931-0358, he sells BT heads, manifolds.
Bought a set of MR BT heads and BT manifold from Barry he can help you with any info on BT products and other FE engine parts.
Mike.

[482supersnake]

There are a few versions of the BT heads out there. They have the medium riser and the high riser versions. The high risers are a taller head altogether and BT doesn't make an intake for them. The port is just a raised version of the medium risers. Now there are two versions of the medium riser out there an early version and the current ones. also they have a 428 and a 427 valve spacing difference. surprisingly the 428 valve spacing heads flowed better. The current medium riser heads flow allot of air right out of the box and were patterned from the cnc heads that Barry used one one of his Engine Masters motors. I don't think the old version is available any longer. You can also switch to a 351c or 429/460 stud type rocker with guide plates if you like or you would need high riser rocker stands or go with a full aftermarket setup. On all of the heads the exhaust port is raised about 3/8 of an inch. Blue thunder also makes a few different intakes a single four that is close to the factory CJ intakes and the factory PI intakes from results that I have seen it out performs the factory Pi intakes. They also make a copy of the factory 2x4 that I think is pretty close in performances to the originals

[Mark O'Neal]

The best way for you to get info on Blue Thunder products would be to contact either BarryR or Keith Craft.

They are a small, very iconoclastic, company with more integrity than almost anyone, but Art is usually traveling around LA, and they have incredibly odd working hours...because of the heat out there.

[FUNFER2]

I agree, Art is hard to get a hold of. I'm sure we'll talk soon.

[Barry_R]

Iconoclastic. I don't know if Art could even pronounce that!

Supersnake hit most of the high points on the BT heads. The current medium risers have a large cast intake port and require only chamber and valve work to be capable of over 750HP. The port is pretty big with 360cfm potential - the BT 1x4 and 2x4 intakes and the Victor can be ported to match, while the Dove or RPM will require some welding first. The head has a raised exhaust port by .400" relative to the deck surface. Headers will either fit - or can be made to fit. Nobody likes installing FE headers anyway... The BT heads have a revised rocker mounting system with eight 7/16-14 fastener holes in addition to the four traditional FE 3/8-16. To use the normal rockers you need to run high riser height rocker stands. But the best is the T&D setup which oils through the pushrods - superior to factory stuff in every possible way.

The BT high riser head is the same basic casting but with a small rectangular port cast with the roof in the factory high riser position. Pretty close resemblance to teh Dove Paquet port, but intentionally smaller and intended to be CNC ported. We've had this casting up to over 400 cfm. The only cast intakes are from Dove - a dominator flange single four with an ENOURMOUS plenum, and a tunnel wedge style 2x4 intake. Both require considerable work. Offset T&D rockers are required. These are our highest potential FE cast heads, but they are not for the timid in terms of setup and you should bring a water cooled checkbook...

[undy]

Kev, You better break-out that "water cooled checkbook" if you're going to mess with the Blue Thunder heads.

I think you better hang with us mere mortals and Mr. Ebok. We've air cooled checkbooks, prone to overheating.

[BlueRooster]

I have the blue thunder intake. I dont know what to compare it to, but I pretty pleased with it. It is a dual quad set-up. I have had the car for over 7 years now without a hiccup. There is no stumble or hesitation at all. They are matched to aluminum cobra jet heads. I'll see if I can drum up a picture.

[BlueRooster]

Here's a decent one.

[FUNFER2]

Barry- that's some great information.
Undy- mine drowned, can I have yours ?
Blue- great looking motor. Is the intake polished or coated ?

I need to talk with Art very soon, and I hope that's today.

[undy]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

Undy- mine drowned, can I have yours ?

Mines shot too, remember ... I've been down the check writing road you're heading

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

I need to talk with Art very soon, and I hope that's today.

When you get hold of him please give him the ol' single finger salute for me... the a$$ho....

[BlueRooster]

Polished......