It looks like most of the questions have been answered. We should have some intakes finished around OCT 10th. The foundry is working on more so there should be enough to go around by late October.

I recommend using the high rise version when the space is available, which means about anything but a T-Bird.

Although I had some input in the Blue Thunder design it is a totally different company. I think they will make some more in the next year. There is a rumor they will add the firing order to the front of the manifold!

Actually my intake incorporates some ideas that didn't make it into the BT that I believed would help it run over a wider range.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

It's been a number of years since Art Francis (Blue Thunder) has produced any new intakes. I seriously doubt if he has any intention of another run with the Mummert intake available. Ted's got it right.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

To reiterate some of what’s already been said:

The Blue Thunder intake is made by Blue Thunder and if painted, passes for a stock intake if you don’t know what to look for.   The ‘Mummert’ intake does not have the heat crossover passage so it’s visibly different when you look at it.  The new ‘Mummert’ intake is subtly better in performance than the Blue Thunder but not enough to make you go out and replace your Blue Thunder intake if you already have one.  The Mummert intake will have the ‘Mummert’ logo in front of the carburetor while the ‘Blue Thunder’ intake has the Ford part number on top of the rear runners like the original cast iron version.

 

Although I’ve tested both manifold designs in back to back tests with both stock and hand ported versions, that data isn’t where I can put my hands on it right now.  But the results have been consistent in that the Mummert intakes are worth on average about 5-6HP more than the BT intakes on prepped Y engines.

 

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a new Blue Thunder intake.  The warehouse I was getting them from has been out of stock essentially since John started production of his own manifolds and no word on when new BT intakes are to arrive.  With Blue Thunder fully engaged in making FE parts, just have to wait and see.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Comments on Blue Thunder intakes etc; A painted one looks like an original "B" intake, a Mummert does not. (I couldn't use a Mummert for instance, because it would violate the collector licensing on my car) Currently it seems the BT isn't available, but no one seems to be able to confirm that, or if any more will be made. My impression based on dyno tests & so on its that the BT is a bit soft on low end power, particularly in smaller displacement engines. It's likely that a suitably modified street "B" intake is about as good in the lower RPM ranges, but the B.T. will likely shine at higher RPM. However, overall the Mummert 4 Bbl intake has tested better than any other intake period, even clearly beating a custom Tunnel Ram in one case. My only concern with it is, (other than it's appearance as noted above) that for those of us in northern latitudes, it does not have choke supply heat..


Paul

Guys, I know alot of you are limited by hood issues, but Ted has done alot of dyno work with differant spacers. I think he is doing an artical for a future issue of YBM so I want let out the details. It seems that the Y block likes alot of spacer, but not just any old four hole spacer. I know that it might be hard to believe, but the one on my engine was good for 37 HP and I have the dyno sheets to prove it. So if you have room for a spacer, you might want to give him a call.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Doug T: Your post answered a lot of my questions, so thanks for that.  There seems to still be a market out there for the BT intakes, so I might bite the bullet and put my name in for John's new one knowing that I can probably sell my polished BT to help cover the cost.  First I have to figure out hood clearance issues to see if I want the low rise or high rise.  I think for my 1956 Club Sedan John is recommending the high rise, but I'll double check that before I write a check.  Thanks, Ron 

John and maybe Ted may have some hard test data on the BlueThunder vs the Mummert 4 bbl intake. I was a very early adopter of the BT and at that time John said that he had done a lot of the development of the design and that his intention was that it would fit an unmodified T bird hood while taking into account the lessons he had learned porting B iron manifolds. But as others have said it was actually manufactured by somebody else. Now I think that he has taken his earlier work and adapted it to the design without the heat crossover. I have not compared it to a stock B manifold or the BT (which is the same height) to see if it is higher rise but there are several people who have both and could probably tell if it is. The biggest advantage of the new Mummert design over the BT may be that it has a large air gap underneath and so gives a denser charge. Plus of course that cool logo!!

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

I think there is some confusion.. John was not the manufacturer of the Blue Thunder intake. He was a dealer for them. Blue Thunder also produces intakes for FE and other Ford engines. Availability of their intakes was always spotty, so I think John jumped in with his new design

Glen:  What's he calling the new one?  Does it have a name like "Blue Thunder," or something similar?  Ron

I think John jumped in because Blue Thunder was not producing. Last time I checked no one had any and didn't know when or if they would have another run. You just have too give John a call and if he is out of stock put your name on the list. I know that he has been tied up on the alum heads for several months now so maybe a little wait.  I love my Mummert intake and had alot of positive comments on it at the show this weekend.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL