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426 Max Wedge 13.5:1 streetable?

NateCharger

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Anoka, MN
How hard would it be to drive a 13.5:1 factory Max Wedge, with a 3 speed, on the street? What octane gas would you need? Can you even really enjoy this car away from the drag strip? Looking for a little education. Thanks!
 
You would need to run 110 octane leaded fuel at a minimum depending on the cam, etc.

I ran around in my red Charger for years on 100% race gas and it was fun until it went up to 8.50/gallon. We are now in the process of finishing a pump gas replacement engine for that car because fueling was too much of a pain for a street/strip toy. If you have an airport near you or a gas tank on your property i might now be that bad outside of the monetary ht in comparison to 93 (91, 92, etc) out of the pump.
 
Not practical at all. Is a numbers matching car like this even worth restoring, if you can't really enjoy it?
 
YES, when you rebuild the engine just change the pistons and the cam to something more suitable.
 
No
Does not depreciate the value
Send us pics

The 11-1 compression engines were difficult enough to drive
I cant imagine the 13.5 engines
Again, these were truly "Factory built" RACE-ONLY engines
 
i believe from what i remember back in the day the 13.5 were difficult because of fuel and head gasket issues. in 1964 the comp was dropped to 12.5 for a reason. i heard back then that some of the racers didn't go the full 13.5 route. i believe the octane requirement back then, with leaded high octane, was 103 for those engines. don't know what that compares to today. an 11:1 engine would need some race gas mix today. a mech cam with a long closing ramp would help.
 
The car is in pieces now, so not much to look at. Really just curious if it is worth the time and money to restore it. Knowing I can change the internals to make it more streetable helps, without effecting the value. I don't even know what the thing would be worth. Not very many true wedge cars out there that aren't clones.
 
Snow performance water methanol injection. You can run up to 15:1 compression on the pump gas. And it'd be pretty badass to say your motor is an original 13:5:1 race max wedge. And you fill it with 91-93 octane without detonation. Something to think about.
 
Snow performance water methanol injection. You can run up to 15:1 compression on the pump gas. And it'd be pretty badass to say your motor is an original 13:5:1 race max wedge. And you fill it with 91-93 octane without detonation. Something to think about.
That IS something to think about!
 
Sure on C-12 race gas. I don't think 110 will cut it at that compression ratio. Other than that I've driven the cross rams on the street. Once they're warmed up they run great. I built a motor for my buddy in Phoenix. He runs a 64 Fury convertible with a 5 speed. Stock carbs and intake, drives anywhere. I did the compression much lower for pump gas.
Doug
 
personally I'd change the cam & pistons & put a 4 speed behind if you plan on driving it a lot
 
Keep the compression at 13:5:1 run snow performance water methanol injection and put a 4-speed behind it. You'll have the best time of your life.
 
Over here here in Australia we just find and befriend someone with a plane or find another supplier of Aviation fuel, Avgas will be fine in it. If Im out on a cruise and using the pump 98 unleaded I put some octane booster in.
 
Build a milder 440 and run a 4 speed. Keep the original 426 and 3 speed under the work bench. When you sell it you can sell it as an original Max Wedge with the numbers matching engine. Doesn't need to be in the car as long as it comes with the car. Value will be the same either way assuming it is a "real" Max Wedge car, but with a milder 440 and 4 speed at least you can enjoy driving the car till you're ready to sell it.
 
centerline has the right idea. I'm restoring a true 64 dodge 13.5/1 max wedge. I'm putting a 440 in it that will look identical to max wedge with all date coded parts. Keeping the rare and very expensive date coded block greased up and under my bench. If / when I sell it.. next owner can decide if he wants to put it in.
 
Build a milder 440 and run a 4 speed. Keep the original 426 and 3 speed under the work bench. When you sell it you can sell it as an original Max Wedge with the numbers matching engine. Doesn't need to be in the car as long as it comes with the car. Value will be the same either way assuming it is a "real" Max Wedge car, but with a milder 440 and 4 speed at least you can enjoy driving the car till you're ready to sell it.


That IS exactly what I did Centerline
Mine:


P1010004.jpg P1010001.jpg P1010002.jpg P1010003.jpg
 
Man, that's a deep pan. Is your front end going to be jacked up like the 60s superstock cars?
 
It all depends on what your going to do with the car....but if you run that compression its going to be expensive.....
 
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