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View Full Version : The birth of Bluto - Popeye's nemisis



Tobbun
05-21-2004, 10:28 AM
Flatsman and I just got the name of the 94 white lightning official registered and the name is Bluto. Who is Bluto and what is the history of the name? He is Brutus brother and arch nemesis of Popeye.

Here is the history...

Why was Popeye's bearded, burly foe named Bluto in some cartoons and Brutus in others?

Popeye was created in a newspaper strip for King Features Syndicate called Thimble Theatre, written and drawn by Elzie Segar. The sailor eventually took over the strip and it was renamed in his honor.

When the folks at the Max Fleischer studio licensed the right to make cartoons of the sailor, they decided to use Bluto, a villain in a then-recent (1932) newspaper strip sequence, as Popeye's nemesis. Segar had only intended Bluto to be a one-shot antagonist but the bearded brute wound up appearing in most of the cartoons produced by Fleischer and later by Paramount Studios. Because he was such a part of the cartoons, he became an intrinsic part of the Popeye comic books and the newspaper strip, as done by those who took over after Segar's death.

When Paramount stopped making the cartoons, the animation rights reverted to King Features. In the early sixties, King Features decided to produce their own, low-budget Popeye cartoons for television. The way the old contract had been structured, they had the animation rights to anything that had appeared initially in the newspaper strip but not to any characters created by the Fleischer or Paramount operations.

Because Bluto had not appeared much in the Segar strips, someone at King Features made the mistake of thinking Bluto had been created for the cartoons and therefore could not be used in their new films. As a replacement, they designed a new, similar villain and called him Brutus. Jackson Beck, who had been the main voice of Bluto for Fleischer/Paramount, was engaged to provide the same voice for Brutus.

So that's why Brutus was in the TV cartoons in lieu of Bluto. However, while the series was still in production, the error was discovered...and they actually did one cartoon, late in the run, where Bluto showed up and teamed up with his "brother," Brutus. In the newspaper strip and comic books, Bud Sagendorf -- Segar's assistant and main successor -- kept drawing the same villain he'd previously called Bluto but started calling him Brutus. (That's one of his drawings adorning this article.)

Since then, they've largely reverted to the Bluto name...but every so often, he's called Brutus. As for the character's look: There was one model for Brutus but Bluto went through several redesigns. Nowadays on merchandise, any of these versions is likely to turn up and there are times when it appears the artist is trying to split the difference and do an amalgam. So it's no wonder you're confused.

Sixpipes
05-21-2004, 11:17 AM
That's a cool name, still leaves "Brutus" for the 93 I'm working on now. Just remember, Popeye ain't on the spinach............yet. :burnout:

http://www.f150online.com/galleries/images/211-300-92996.jpg

Crawford
05-21-2004, 12:42 PM
zzzzZZZZzzZzZzZzzzZZzZZz

Sixpipes
05-21-2004, 02:22 PM
And we thank you for your support.......................

Crawford
05-21-2004, 03:39 PM
:D :beer:

Ivanhoe_Farms
05-21-2004, 11:06 PM
Tobbun,

I just knew that you were going to choose SWEET PEA!:bs

Flats Man
05-23-2004, 07:35 PM
....and I sent Tobbun to college for this??...lol Welcome as a supporting member Tobbun! I really like the name Bluto and it is a little meaner than Sweet Pea! Excellent choice! Just remember that Bluto is supposed to beat up on the other Dallas Area Club trucks and Cars. He is supposed to be nice to Talon members and especially Pop Eye, unless it is them or us! lol

Flats Man
05-25-2004, 12:03 PM
Bluto just got a new Tonneau Masters bed cover today. With this cover, we can still haul stuff from Home Depot and it is light enough to still haul some butt too!

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/33MVC-009F1-med.JPG

Flats Man
06-06-2004, 08:07 PM
Today, Bluto got a new Clockspring installed! No more flashing Air Bag light and now my horn works and hopefully the cruise control will also be working. We also adjusted the steering and tightned it up a bit. The truck is getting closer to being ready for its trip to Texas. This week, Bluto will get a radiator flush with new radiator hoses, thermostat, anti-freeze, and radiator cap.
How many of our Gen1 owners have the flashing airbag light? I have a source in Sherman for the Clockspring at $76.

Flats Man
06-10-2004, 08:28 AM
Bluto is going to the dyno today! I will be checking the F/A just to see where I am and that it is safe. My guess is that it is pretty Fat! Anyone care to guess the RWHP and Torque numbers?
Here are the mods to the truck. Edelbrock Aluminum heads with roller rockers, Crane Cam, Ford Motorsport Headers, Pro M Mass Air Conversion, Powerdyne Blower at 6 lbs (I'm Guessing). I will be optimistic and guess 330 RWHP and 340 LBS of Torque.

Sixpipes
06-10-2004, 08:48 AM
I'm thinking 310-320 rwhp, but really don't have a clue because of timing and flow numbers on the heads. Keep in mind a stock Gen II is about 330 rwhp with 8#s of boost. I could get closer if you would make a pass at Bradenton. :D

Flats Man
06-10-2004, 08:55 AM
I have been reluctant to run it at Bradenton until I checked it out. After this dyno, I will take it to the track. My estimate is probably way too high since it will soon be 90 degrees out with about 95% humidity!

Tobbun
06-10-2004, 09:03 AM
If you are walking through the woods with another person and a bear attacks... You don't have to be faster than the bear, you just have to be faster than the other person you are with. :twitch:

Flats Man
06-10-2004, 09:14 AM
Hey Tobbun,

We better be carefull or Popeye will open up a can of spinich on us! lol

Flats Man
06-10-2004, 08:13 PM
Well here is the dyno for Bluto:

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/33Gen1_Dyno-med.jpg

Run 1 was with a loose blower belt which was tightened in run 2. The FMU dumped max fuel in the early part of the run and then the 24 lb injectors and the fuel system was not able to keep up. We will be changing to 42# injectors and recalibrating the Pro M. We will install a 255 l/h intank pump and feed a T-Rex frame rail. We will be installing a Procharger Adjustable FMU or eliminating the FMU completely. All that being said, I was pleasantly surprised!

Sixpipes
06-10-2004, 09:09 PM
Interesting torque numbers, but I guess not totally unexpected. I'm surprised as well. Those heads must flow pretty well. So you're in Gen II territory , at least with the horsepower numbers that is. You need to post that over in the dyno section. :tu:

Flats Man
06-10-2004, 09:24 PM
Ok, I will post it in the Dyno Section.......where is the dyno section? On another subject, I got the timing put in the chip today on the 98 F150. It is very scary!
Never mind, I found it.

Flats Man
07-09-2004, 07:44 PM
As part of the upgrading of Bluto, I installed some new 42 lb injectors and sent the Pro M out to be recalibrated. I will be installing a 255 in tank and a new 255 inline pump on the frame rail. The old FMU is being changed to a new Pro Charger adjustable which will help with my F/A at higher RPM. After the fuel pumps, I will be installing a dual pillar pod with a fuel pressure gauge and a boost gauge. That is the latest on Bluto!

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/33MVC-019F1-med.JPG

Tex Arcana
07-09-2004, 09:33 PM
Naww.. that ain't Bluto...


























THIS is BLuto:
http://www.bonistalli.it/images/bluto.jpg

:rll:

Flats Man
08-01-2004, 08:06 PM
Just an update on Bluto. He fired up for the first time today on the 42 lb injectors and the adjustable FMU. I install some tall Trick Flow valve covers so I had to put in a 1 inch spacer so that the GT 40 intake would clear the covers. The Pro M was recalibrated to the 42's and I replaced the damaged element that I found. Next is the pillar pod which I hope to have installed this week. It will have the boost and fuel pressure gauges. All this stuff is being done before the truck comes to Texas and joins the Lightning Fest Convoy!

Ivanhoe_Farms
08-03-2004, 10:30 AM
;)
I wanta see , I wanta see!!

:d

Flats Man
08-03-2004, 07:41 PM
Bluto got a new FFW transfer banner today. I did not like the ones that FFW gives us so I had a few made up.

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/33MVC-024F1-med.JPG

It is about ready to head out to God's Counrty!

dboat
05-29-2006, 05:51 PM
Only because I was at Best Buy.. and.....

I bought a 4 DVD set of Popeye cartoons..knana knana

it costs less than $15.. one of my favorite cartoon characters growing up.. although I am doubting they will include the non-PC cartoons.. hence, only 4 DVD's... :evil

I bet Dennis is just green with envy..

Dana

Flats Man
05-29-2006, 08:37 PM
Some of you may not know about Go_rila's Cousins!
http://www.go-rila.com/cousins_page.htm

Silver_2000
05-29-2006, 10:03 PM
didnt http://www.go-rila.com/popeye.htm

popeye get sold ?

Flats Man
05-30-2006, 06:49 AM
didnt http://www.go-rila.com/popeye.htm

popeye get sold ?

Nope, Popeye belongs to Ivanhoe Farms!

Flats Man
06-08-2006, 08:34 PM
Just an update on Bluto! The hood, Grill, Front bumper and air dam are out to paint. The front bumper has been cut to accept the Diesel trim piece to get air to the intercooler. The Spearco intercooler is in place and the turbo hot section is complete. I will be refabbing the cross over pipe because of the large Canton oil pan. I sold the Garrett T68E turbo and today we installed a new PT 76 GTSH and will be fabbing up a new down pipe to fit that turbo. The turbo cam is installed and I will post the specs on that later. The intake is installed and we will be bringing the boost in on the Mustang side of the truck. We are eliminating the cruise control but will be keeping the air. The fuel system is underway. We will be using a Weldon 2035 Pump with a Weldon 2040 Regulator and Filter. The rear tank has been sumped and a 12 AN line will feed the pump with a 10AN after that. The rails will be fed by 8 AN and two 6 an lines will go to a 8 AN return
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/MVC-023F2.JPG

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/MVC-025F3.JPG

Flats Man
06-12-2006, 05:39 PM
I just installed the PT 76 GTSH turbo on the truck and will be finishing the down pipe soon. This turbo is a lot more suited to this motor than the Garrett T 68 E.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/MVC-005F7.JPG

Ivanhoe_Farms
06-14-2006, 09:55 PM
I thought you were putting a 100 mm turbo on it with say ------------25lbs of boost or something :cool:

Flats Man
06-15-2006, 06:36 PM
My biggest problem is going to be keeping the boost at a level that will not exceed the Horse Power limit on the two bolt mains on the block. I should have probably gone with an R block to begin with! It will be scary enough like it is!

Mark #2
06-15-2006, 06:45 PM
I just installed the PT 76 GTSH turbo on the truck and will be finishing the down pipe soon. This turbo is a lot more suited to this motor than the Garrett T 68 E.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/MVC-005F7.JPG

What drove the decision to locate of the turbo over there?

Sixpipes
06-15-2006, 08:46 PM
I think the turbo kit he bought uses the driver's side header and the original intake dumped out on the driver's side as well...

http://www.davidawilks.com/auto/engineside.jpg

Flats Man
06-15-2006, 11:15 PM
Sixpipes is right, I have a log header on the drivers side of the car and a standard header on the passenger side with a crossover pipe conecting the two. This set up is being modified from the picture that Pipes posted however. The air will come into the turbo from the drivers side and the boost will be fed into the intercooler on the drivers side. The coolerd boosted air will come out the passenger side of the intercooler and though a 3.5 Univer blow thru into the TB which will be set up on the Mustang side. Blow off will be to atmosphere right after the intercooler.

Ivanhoe_Farms
06-16-2006, 10:14 AM
My biggest problem is going to be keeping the boost at a level that will not exceed the Horse Power limit on the two bolt mains on the block. I should have probably gone with an R block to begin with! It will be scary enough like it is!

What is the A/R on that turbo??

Flats Man
06-16-2006, 10:49 PM
A/r = .96