Blue Thunder Cylinder Heads

April 18 2002 Dan Jones Wrote:
To my knowledge, Scott Black and Keith Verges were the first to put together a motor with
Blue Thunder heads for a Pantera. I've not heard what it's like on the street other than Keith described
it as at "the ragged edge of streetable". The short block was a 3.75" stroker, 0.020", Crower
mechanical cam, topped off with a HP series Holley on a Roush intake. Peaked at 482 HP at 6400 RPM
and 440 ft-lbs at 5400 RPM. Keith thought they could make 500 HP with a larger carb.
April 18 2002 Dan Jones Wrote:
Art Francis at Blue Thunder went out of his way to say that these heads are not street heads and
should only be used on something with a lot of piston speed (high RPM or long stroke or both). The
maximum cross-sectional area is less than a 4V but the port doesn't taper like a 4V (which speeds up
the flow) and the bowl is quite large. They wouldn't be my first choice for a street or even street/strip
car but I think it's going to be wait and see to see how they do on the street. One of the Pantera
vendors sells them, so I'm sure a few will turn up on the street.
I'd definitely go with the A3's over the BT's.
Dec 6 2005 Joe wrote:
The 3.6's are the ones you see everywhere they started calling them that after they came out with
the 4.3 to differentiate between the 2. I do not recall what the valve angles are on the 4.3 but it is said
to be the best sbf head to date for an all out comp eliminator type engine. I have never seen a 4.3
anywhere.
Dec 7th 2005 Joe wrote:
Here's the thing blue thunder and dart do the best heat treat in the industry. Also BT's come with washers
and time serts. those boys running 4.2 with the brodix heads have to whack their heads every so often
because of warping they've done it 3-4 times in only 2-3 years and they have to use thicker head gaskets
each time .
They paid around 6000 dollars for the heads initially and now they would LOVE to sell them but they won't
get anywhere near 6000 out of them.
You see where I'm going with this? Have your man get the BT's if at all possible, if you can find them they
are cheaper and they last longer than most aftermarket heads.
Sept 22 2002 Brian S Posted this picture:
http://www.bluethunderauto.com/
BLUE THUNDER FORD SMALL BLOCK RACE ONLY CYLINDER HEAD
This head is a canted valve (351C valve angles and location) Yates intake port location head that can use
2.02" to 2.20" intake valves and 1.60" to 1.70" exhaust valves. 7Occ and 50cc combustion chambers are
available. Two different exhaust ports are available. The high exhaust port is Yates bolt pattern and height.
The low exhaust port has a double Cleveland bolt pattern. The lower bolt pattern is stock Cleveland height
with a port that functions as a "stuffed Cleveland" port, in which the bottom of the port is filled. The second
bolt pattern is .750" higher and aligns the floor of the port with floor of the flange. The top of the port can
then be cut out to match the flange for increased exhaust flow.
All ports have .400" wall on them. This head has partly machined alcohol down nozzles that can be finished
with careful use of a hand held drill.
Manifolds for the head are available from both Ford Motorsport and Edelbrock.
This head is designed for the 350-426 cu. in. small block market, in serious racing engine. Intake ports with
10 to 1 5 minutes of work, will flow approx. 350-360 cfm at 28", with a 2.20 valve. (Please note: use a valve
over 2.125" only, in a big bore (4.125" - 4.155") application as cylinder wall valve shrouding is a problem).
This intake port has already been ported to more than 395 cfm at .800 lift. The Yates height exhaust port
will flow approx. 240 cfm at 28" with a 1.70" valve at .800 lift (with approx. 10-1 5 minutes work per port).
This port has already been ported to 285+ cfm with a full porting.
The lower Cleveland export starts at 200 cfm to 220 cfm in the lower position. The higher Cleveland
location must be ported and should flow 250 cfm when properly worked.
All B302 - 351C valve train components, including shaft rocker conversions, are compatible with this head,
which has generous rocker arm stud pads.
AGAIN, THIS HEAD IS FOR 350-425+ CU. IN. RACE APPLICATIONS ONLY!
Do not use in small cu. in. applications on the street.
http://www.flatlanderracing.com/bthunderheads_sb.html
Blue Thunder Cylinder Heads
Small Block Ford Race Heads
Blue Thunder Small Block Race Heads are NOW IN STOCK!!! They feature Canted Valves
similar to Cleveland heads and are available in two combustion chamber sizes 50cc and 70cc.
Standard intake runners are 220cc. Intake and exhaust ports are 2.200" intake and 1.71"
exhaust (available with 2.25" intake and 1.70" exhaust for 4.155" bore), similar to Yates and
require a Yates intake manifold and Yates style headers. These heads can be used on 351
Cleveland (9.20 deck), 351 Windsor (9.50 deck), and Ford SVO Blocks 9.200" and 9.500"
deck heights. (Takes different intake manifolds for different deck heights). A standard
Cleveland height exhaust port is also available. Blue Thunder Heads are designed for high
output, big cubic race engines. Headers and Intakes are available through Flatlander Racing.
Rocker Stud Girdles and Rocker Shaft Assemblies available.
Blue Thunder Heads Available in Stage 1, 2, 3 and Comp:
Stage 1: Assembled with stainless steel valves, complete valve job, Manley chrome moly
retainers and locks, Viton valve stem seals and Isky double valve springs for up to .570 lift
cams (optional valve springs available for any lift cam).
Stage 2: Includes Stage 1 plus pocket porting, intake port match and port clean up and
full exhaust porting.
Stage 3: Includes Stage 1 & 2 plus full intake porting, reshape chambers to unshroud
valves and polish combustion chambers.
Comp: Includes all 3 stages above, plus additional porting.
Average Flow Figures:
Out of box at 700 lift, intake 360, exhaust 270.
Stage 3 at 700 lift, with 2.200 intake and 1.71 exhaust, 400 intake, 300 exhaust.
Comp at 700 lift, with 2.25 intake and 1.70 exhaust (for 4.155 bore, 423 intake, 311
exhaust).
Bare Heads
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Comp
$1699
$2469
$2899
$3245
$4349
http://www.fordpowertrain.com/bluethunderheads.htm
BLUE THUNDER FORD SMALL BLOCK RACE ONLY CYLINDER HEAD
This head is a canted valve (351C valve angles and location) Yates intake port location head that can use
2.02" to 2.20" intake valves and 1.60" to 1.70" exhaust valves. 7Occ and 50cc combustion chambers are
available. Two different exhaust ports are available. The high exhaust port is Yates bolt pattern and height.
The low exhaust port has a double Cleveland bolt pattern. The lower bolt pattern is stock Cleveland height
with a port that functions as a "stuffed Cleveland" port, in which the bottom of the port is filled. The second
bolt pattern is .750" higher and aligns the floor of the port with floor of the flange. The top of the port can
then be cut out to match the flange for increased exhaust flow.
All ports have .400" wall on them. This head has partly machined alcohol down nozzles that can be finished
with careful use of a hand held drill.
Manifolds for the head are available from both Ford Motorsport and Edelbrock.
This head is designed for the 350-426 cu. in. small block market, in serious racing engine. Intake ports with
10 to 1 5 minutes of work, will flow approx. 350-360 cfm at 28", with a 2.20 valve. (Please note: use a valve
over 2.125" only, in a big bore (4.125" - 4.155") application as cylinder wall valve shrouding is a problem).
This intake port has already been ported to more than 395 cfm at .800 lift. The Yates height exhaust port
will flow approx. 240 cfm at 28" with a 1.70" valve at .800 lift (with approx. 10-1 5 minutes work per port).
This port has already been ported to 285+ cfm with a full porting. The lower Cleveland export starts at 200
cfm to 220 cfm in the lower position. The higher Cleveland location must be ported and should flow 250
cfm when properly worked.
All B302 - 351C valve train components, including shaft rocker conversions, are compatible with this head,
which has generous rocker arm stud pads.
AGAIN, THIS HEAD IS FOR 350-425+ CU. IN. RACE APPLICATIONS ONLY!
Do not use in small cu. in. applications on the street.
Terry Parker checks out some Blue Thunder heads
November 7 2004 at 3:32 PM
Tom Custom (Premier Login 58custom)
Forum Owner
from IP address 68.120.189.249
Terry Parker got hold of some Blue Thunder heads, and sent me the following pictures and information.
70cc chambers. Ferrea 2.1/1.65 valves.
Dimensions:
Intake
Deck to bottom of port
Deck to top of port
Width/Height
.BT
1.715
3.715
1.55 X 2.00
Exhaust
Deck to bottom of port
Deck to top of port
Width/Height
2.35
3.875
1.55X2.00
4V
Difference
.50
3.00
2.5X1.75
+1.215
+.715
.90
2.90
1.75X2.00
+1.450
+.975
Width C/L of head bolt to outer edge
Intake side: Same as 4V
Exhaust: +.330
Port flow
"Heads were nicely tidied up as can be seen in photos. However I wouldn't classify them as being ported,
but definitely more than a 10 minute tidy-up."
Lift....Int....Ex w/o pipe....ex w/pipe
.2______141_______124____________129
.3______191_______165____________172
.4______236_______194____________200
.5______273_______213____________219
.55_____288_______219____________227
.6______302_______221____________231
.65_____313_______224____________233
.7______323_______227____________236
.75_____329_______229____________239
First, notice how much higher the intake ports on the BT heads are compared
to a 4V head intake gasket. Note the bolt holes in relation to the ports.
Top view:
Width of the head:
Chamber with & without valves:
Some dims of intake port:
Exhaust port dims:
Yahoo! Photos - View Photo
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/351clevelandsrock30...dir=/351%2bBlue%2bThunder%2bArticle%26.src=gr%26.view=t12/19/2005 11:32:41 AM
Yahoo! Photos - View Photo
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/351clevelandsrock30...r%2bArticle%26.dnm=Thundering%2bBlues%2b1.jpg%26.src=gr12/19/2005 11:32:52 AM