Chrome valve covers Max Wedge

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 13, 2018

Hi
I have a 1963 Plymouth Belvedere.it was an original 426 3 speed car .But unfortunately the original drivetrain is long gone.it has been replaced with a stroker 440 (496) with a cross ram .I purchased the car complete and want to change a few things to make it look a bit more stock under the hood and maintain the max wedge look.
Here is a short list of non stock components under the hood .
Edelbrock vintage finned valve covers
Doug's fender-well headers
Mopar performance heads
Wilwood master cylinder (would prefer a stock one but with four wheel disc there could be a clearance issue )
Along with a bunch of smaller non stock stuff.(I will be painting the Griffin radiator soon )
The cross ram is still natural aluminum color wich I want to keep it that way
The block has been professionally painted black .and I don't want to pull the engine to repaint it, so I cant change it.I also will not replace the headers
I want to replace the valve covers
So with the block being black I cant just throw a set of orange valve covers on ,and Im not sure if I painted a set of stock valve covers black and slapped a super stock sticker on them it would look right .
So here s my question
Has anyone seen a cross ram car with factory type stamped steel chrome valve covers with the super stock decal on them in one of these cars ? Ifso how did it look in person?

Again Im not trying to pass this car off as a super stock I just want it a bit more stock looking

.

andyf · Nov 13, 2018

I think it looks pretty good right now. My advice is to go slow when making cosmetic changes since sometimes you don't know what you like until you see it. First thing I'd do is pull the radiator and paint it black. You should also find a stock radiator cap for it so it looks more correct. Then see how you like that look. I'm not sure on the core support on the early cars. Later cars painted the light color cars black in the core support so they don't show thru the grill. You might research that. The valve covers look fine to me and they probably seal better than any factory tin covers. If you want factory covers then you can find a pair and try different colors to see what you like. Orange might be too loud. Black might look good. Chrome would probably look good also.

Steve009 · Nov 13, 2018

From my knowledge the chrome valve covers only came on street wedge packages so it may look weird with the super stock sticker imo. I agree to paint the rad. Are the heads painted the same colour as the block or are they aluminum? On mine, the look I’m going for is all painted with the only “shiny” part being the headers. Like someone purchased the car and just slapped headers on it the next day. If you are careful you may be able to mask off everything and paint the block in the car? Either way you engine looks sweet. One more thing to note is that maybe the bigger valve covers were needed to clear after market rockers? You may need spacers with stock ones to get the same clearance.

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 13, 2018

andyf said:
I think it looks pretty good right now. My advice is to go slow when making cosmetic changes since sometimes you don't know what you like until you see it. First thing I'd do is pull the radiator and paint it black. You should also find a stock radiator cap for it so it looks more correct. Then see how you like that look. I'm not sure on the core support on the early cars. Later cars painted the light color cars black in the core support so they don't show thru the grill. You might research that. The valve covers look fine to me and they probably seal better than any factory tin covers. If you want factory covers then you can find a pair and try different colors to see what you like. Orange might be too loud. Black might look good. Chrome would probably look good also.[/QUOT
Thanks and Yes the radiator is top on my list.I might end up buying a cheap set of Ebay chrome valve covers just to see what they look like .Went out Sunday and spent around $100 on a PVC and a breather cap made me a bit sick these mopar parts are a bit dear

Dibbons · Nov 13, 2018

Just a comment on transmission. I thought I read somewhere that in '63 the max wedge cars were equipped with a 3 speed manual transmission, not the 4 speed which was available a year later?

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 13, 2018

Dibbons said:
Just a comment on transmission. I thought I read somewhere that in '63 the max wedge cars were equipped with a 3 speed manual transmission, not the 4 speed which was available a year later?

your right sorry .There's an 833 in it now

66Satellite47 · Nov 13, 2018

Do you intend on replacing a Wilwood master cylinder (presume dual) with a "stock" original MC? Bad plan. BTW I'm pretty sure a 4 wheel disc MC is a different bore than a "stock" MC.

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 13, 2018

66Satellite47 said:
Do you intend on replacing a Wilwood master cylinder (presume dual) with a "stock" original MC? Bad plan. BTW I'm pretty sure a 4 wheel disc MC is a different bore than a "stock" MC.

If I replace the master cylinder I'll use an aftermarket one that has a more stock OEM appearance.. I have done several four-wheel disc brake upgrades and finding a master cylinder that will work should not be a problem the problem is clearance with the header very close as it is

66Satellite47 · Nov 13, 2018

I should have been more clear "stock" for that car is a single cylinder. Real safety issues. You may mean a stock later model dual cylinder?

MD Mopar · Nov 13, 2018

here is a photo of mine. with air cleaners and velocity stacks.

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 13, 2018

66Satellite47 said:
I should have been more clear "stock" for that car is a single cylinder. Real safety issues. You may mean a stock later model dual cylinder?

Yes a cast iron OEM appearing four-wheel disc brake master cylinder there are several aftermarket one's available sorry if I wasn't clear I do not care what the master cylinder came off of just as long is it has a OEM appearance and will clear the headers

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 13, 2018

MD Mopar said:
here is a photo of mine. with air cleaners and velocity stacks.

View attachment 678800 View attachment 678801

That's a good look. Certainly some food for thought

VANDAN · Nov 13, 2018

To get a look at some pics of what You were originally asking, Google "Max Wedge Engine Images", and if you page through them, there are several shots of some with Chrome valve covers. They seem to look very nice, and wouldn't hesitate to go that route...

VANDAN · Nov 13, 2018

MD Mopar said:
here is a photo of mine. with air cleaners and velocity stacks.

View attachment 678800 View attachment 678801

MD Mopar, could you possibly give us any details on the master cylinder you have on that car, as I need to acquire one like it for my build. Also, if your car is not an original M/W, what K-member & motor mounts are you using ? Thanks for any help you can add...

MD Mopar · Nov 14, 2018

I will check my files on the Master Cylinder. It is just a big block K-member, and motor mounts are from Schumacher, I believe the MC is for a 1974 E body with front disk brakes, and was purchased at Advance auto.. I had TTI headers originally with no problems with the clearance with the MC. I do have a heat shield on it now with the cast iron M/W headers being very close to it. I do have chrome valve covers on the engine which in my opinion look good.

Maddogmike1001 · Nov 15, 2018

VANDAN said:
MD Mopar, could you possibly give us any details on the master cylinder you have on that car, as I need to acquire one like it for my build. Also, if your car is not an original M/W, what K-member & motor mounts are you using ? Thanks for any help you can add...

It's a Wilwood unit not too sure on part number

dvw · Nov 15, 2018

I say do what you want. If you want the engine orange, paint it. I've painted plenty of motors in the car. Its all in the masking. Masking with aluminum foil works wonders around motor mounts, cables, etc. Tape a paper the rest. No one will see a little over spray on the mounts once it's all back together. If your real picky brush touch. Though not factory appearing it looks well detailed.
Doug

VANDAN · Nov 15, 2018

Maddogmike1001 said:
It's a Wilwood unit not too sure on part numberView attachment 679297

Hey MDM, I see your M/C is a close fit also with the headers. I'm using the original style Cast Ex Manifolds, so that's my concern as to how much clearance there will be in there. I had my arm twisted to use the fender well headers also, but I am still managing to stay my original course on this project. Could you possibly get me a dimension from the firewall to the upmost surface (front) M/C, on the bottom side. Thanks for any help you can render...

Carter62 · May 1, 2019

Maddogmike1001 said:
Hi
I have a 1963 Plymouth Belvedere.it was an original 426 3 speed car .But unfortunately the original drivetrain is long gone.it has been replaced with a stroker 440 (496) with a cross ram .I purchased the car complete and want to change a few things to make it look a bit more stock under the hood and maintain the max wedge look.
Here is a short list of non stock components under the hood .
Edelbrock vintage finned valve covers
Doug's fender-well headers
Mopar performance heads
Wilwood master cylinder (would prefer a stock one but with four wheel disc there could be a clearance issue )
Along with a bunch of smaller non stock stuff.(I will be painting the Griffin radiator soon )
The cross ram is still natural aluminum color wich I want to keep it that way
The block has been professionally painted black .and I don't want to pull the engine to repaint it, so I cant change it.I also will not replace the headers
I want to replace the valve covers
So with the block being black I cant just throw a set of orange valve covers on ,and Im not sure if I painted a set of stock valve covers black and slapped a super stock sticker on them it would look right .
So here s my question
Has anyone seen a cross ram car with factory type stamped steel chrome valve covers with the super stock decal on them in one of these cars ? Ifso how did it look in person?

Again Im not trying to pass this car off as a super stock I just want it a bit more stock looking

.

View attachment 678678

Carter62 · May 1, 2019

I think the steel valve covers, chrome with stickers/decals just can't
be beat. But then I'm old school.

Chrome valve covers Max Wedge

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