I'd paint them too look original. I like the look of a painted y-block that's accessorized with alum.valve covers,headders,chrome breathers and the belt pullys,fan etc. can be any color you want and the list can go on and on.I think the y-block is one of the most beautiful engines out there and there gonna look great any way you fix' um up.

-Gary Burnette-

Just a point of clarification on the look of the heads.  When I say smooth, I mean casting smooth and not machined smooth.  Casting smooth means no parting lines and casting flash as seen on the originals.  We’d be talking Blue Thunder intake manifold smooth as far as the texture goes.  The potential is there for the ends to be machined smooth though and possibly a manufacturer logo or stamp placed there.

Unfortunately it’s not that easy.  If all the heads are machined the same with one end smooth and the other end rough cast, then ultimately one side of the engine will have a smooth head to the front and the other side will have a rough head to the front.  The heads would have to be machined left and right specific to make this work.  Good try though Bill.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks for the clarification on the rough finish Ted, I originally preferred smooth because I was comparing to the rough factory items but a nice clean fine cast finish like the Blue Thunder would be just as good.

Pete, one of the Aussie mob. Beechworth, Victoria60 F100 Panel Van, Y-block. 65 Galaxie Country Sedan 390

Blue Thunder smooh is ok with me.  I was thinking machined smooth.  I think the Blue thunder intake is as beautiful as it functions.  I just don't like things that are obviously aftermarket.  AFR comes to mind - how they engrave their logo onto the machined ends.  In most cases, I don't like to advertise if I'm not being paid.


Lawrenceville, GA

The finish on a Blue Thunder is a combination of fine molding sand, care in molding and wheelabrating the castings at heat treat. Probably some rejected castings to motivate the foundry also.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Blue Thunder finish is fine with me, I'm not into the shiney polishing yet.

-Gary Burnette-

A rough finish would work for me.   Easier to smooth later than add roughness.  I like parts that look like Ford made them. 

Pat Fleischman

I'd go with either one! Heck, we had been hearing about aluminum heads even before I started the site, which is over five years. It is time for smooth, rough or with pink polka dots!

Jim (site owner)
'56 Club Sedan - Ted Eaton built 429 hp '292/318, '54 Sunliner - stock '302

Machined smooth, as cast, doesn't really matter to me, as long as it is a good, sound design, that is capable of moving a lot of air out of the box, as well as enough material there left for porting, valve upsizing, etc.  Count me in for a set....

James Potter
`57 Fords International



`57 Custom Tudor

`57 Fords International National Director

Pass Christian, MS (near Gulfport/Biloxi)

    Blue Thunder finish works for me! KID