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426 wedge vs 440

Tonz

Tonz

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I have a 1962 Plymouth belvedere that i was planning on giving a 572 hemi (4.5" bore and stroke) because icbc (local insurance company) lets you be within 2 years for your components and still get collectors plates. Even though the '64 belvedere got the 426 hemi, i believe it was only for NHRA racing not for the public, but it did get the 426 wedge. And to avoid the headache of dealing with the insurance company ill go wedge. I read on the "426 wedge education" page that its the same as 440 just with smaller bore. So if i built a 440 and gave it that sexy cross ram intake, would it be indistinguishable from a 426 wedge from just looking at it? I ask because Jims auto parts offers a 4.5" bore 440 block and i havent found anyone selling a 426 wedge block so if they're the same it seems to me like a no brainer to just get the one thats my desired bore and ready to be assembled. Link is to the jims auto parts block im looking at:

https://www.jimsautoparts.com/mopar_performance_blocks.htm
 
Build whatever big wedge you want, restamp the engine pad near the distributor 413 and put 413 superstock valve cover decals and a crossram on it.
Thats what i did with my 62.
You are trying to fool an insurance company (f@%k em), not a bunch of mopar experts.
 
It shouldn't matter. Now, if you were telling them it was a slant 6 and you installed a Hemi, they would have grounds to complain if you got sideways and ran it up a tree.

A lawyer would ask, what was the date of your car's build, and what was the date of the very first Hemi to leave Chrysler's hands? Could it be less than 3 years? 2 years and 364 days, or less? Isn't that still 2 years?
 
sam dupont said:
It shouldn't matter. Now, if you were telling them it was a slant 6 and you installed a Hemi, they would have grounds to complain if you got sideways and ran it up a tree.

A lawyer would ask, what was the date of your car's build, and what was the date of the very first Hemi to leave Chrysler's hands? Could it be less than 3 years? 2 years and 364 days, or less? Isn't that still 2 years?
Click to expand...
Im not sure how strict they are with the 2 years, feel like maybe its "to be interpreted" but if a 413 wedge was offered in '62 and the 426 in '63, i dont think i should have any issues.. i have a 4 door however which i believe only came in the slant 6 but i bought it with a 318 so no dlant 6 for me, not to mention i dont think the insurance company would look into it that much, a lawyer might but they wont pull my engine apart to check the bore and stroke
 
Pretty sure some of the hemis were offered in street cars although super rare. The hemi hard top belvederes. If you want a hemi I’d put a hemi.
 
Easy just tell them it is a 426. No need to mention Hemi .
 
Steve009 said:
Pretty sure some of the hemis were offered in street cars although super rare. The hemi hard top belvederes. If you want a hemi I’d put a hemi.
Click to expand...
Yeah i dont think the street belvederes got hemi's until 65, while i do wanna be able to say yes to the "hey that things got a hemi?", collectors plates means more to me and i dont wanna jeopardize that at all.. if they're still being made i think there were some after market 440 heads that were used for a "hemi conversion" and i could always look into those
 
A lot of '62 owners are using the 440 with cross ram manifold and 413 decals. No big deal. The rules that I've mostly seen is what ever engine that was available for your car is accepted. Hagarty just asked me if it was a V8.
 
I was running a 440 with 426 decals on the valve covers and not even Mopar guys ever noticed. No insurance person is going to know what they are looking at.
 
Tonz said:
Yeah.. never realized that there were cross rams for the hemi, just wonder how different itd look vs a wedge
Click to expand...

It looks out of place to the purists because the Hemi wasn't available for '62. For a hot rod or a pro street '62 it could be cool looking. It all depends on what you're going for. Going with a 440 will be more economical than a Hemi to build. If the insurance co asks, it's a 413.
 
khryslerkid said:
It looks out of place to the purists because the Hemi wasn't available for '62. For a hot rod or a pro street '62 it could be cool looking. It all depends on what you're going for. Going with a 440 will be more economical than a Hemi to build. If the insurance co asks, it's a 413.
Click to expand...
Yeah im definitely starting to lean towards basing my 572 off a 440 block all things considered
 
Just switch to Hagerty
why worry about hiding it, hoping they don't notice, or even lying about it
 
Last edited:
I don't know who "Jims" is but the blocks they are showing don't exist at that price. Current 4.5" bore blocks are around $5K. And yes a Max wedge top end on a 440 looks just like a 413 or 426.
Doug
 
Steve009 said:
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-0710-1964-plymouth-hemi-belvedere-super-commando/
Click to expand...
No doubt the 426 hemi was born in 64 but it was for racing specifically, i dont think it was until later that they were shoved into street cars, a quick google yielded me this:

"The first civilian-spec 426 Hemi engines showed up in 1966 with the Dodge Coronet and Charger, and the Plymouth Belvedere"

From:
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/driving...elebrating-50-years-of-chryslers-426-hemi/amp
 
I just looked at the referenced "jims" add. Doug is right, i would be shocked, SHOCKED, if such an animal exists at that price. Because they would be sold out and flipped in ten minutes if any were available.
I think you better start looking for a rebuildable 440 block.
 
33 IMP said:
I just looked at the referenced "jims" add. Doug is right, i would be shocked, SHOCKED, if such an animal exists at that price. Because they would be sold out and flipped in ten minutes if any were available.
I think you better start looking for a rebuildable 440 block.
Click to expand...
Thats definitely an option.. would you know any reputable brand selling a block? I feel like id rather spend a little bit more on a brand new block than a 60y old engine full of components ill be replacing... its impossible to find any second hand mopar locally unless your buying a car, and i feel like the only way id see it is if i was buying an engine, if i could find one at all
 
I dont know of anyone selling a new, aftermarket block, where you can go, write a check, and load it in the bed of your pickup. Certainly not for $3500 canadian, or usd for that matter.
There have been lots of threads about aftermarket iron blocks, but i dont know of any actually being delivered, certainly not any of the mopar part # blocks.
Thats why i suggested looking for a core motor. At one time, blueprint sold 493's but that time has long passed, they couldnt find enough decent cores to use.
To be honest, if you cant find a 440, i would definitely consider a stroked low deck, a 383 stroked to 496, or a 400 stroked to 470 or 512.
Then dress it up as a 361 for the insurance company.
 
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