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Max Wedge info

Appears to be a nice looking well built car but judging by the engine bay photo it's not a real max wedge.
 
Not likely a real Maxie, but a nice tribute car. If you are more interested in the "look", rather than originality, this could be the car for you. The vin plate would tell the tale about authenticity. An original Stage 3 Maxie would be much more $$$. The seller is probably right, you could not build it for that price. A lot less work and aggravation in buying a complete car. Plus, you can get out and drive it NOW, rather than 2 or 3 years from now.
 
I remember being at an NMCA meet at National Trail Raceway 20 years ago or so, and talking to a guy who had a 1963 Dodge Maxie for sale. This was a real deal Stage 3, complete with aluminum nose. The car was absolutely beautiful in bright red. This car was over $100,000 20 years ago. I asked why he was selling it. He replied that he had it restored so well that he did not feel like driving it any more. He was also tired of constantly having to be with it at car shows to protect the fragile front fenders from "knuckle knockers". Also, know that a 426 built to Stage 3 spec's will not be cruise-friendly. The cam and compression will not play nice with today's pump fuel. You would have to buy barrels of race fuel.
 
Looks like someones nicely built hot rod and I doubt you could build it for anywhere near that price. I wouldn't case after it thinking it was the real deal.
 
Appreciate the comments. I had no illusions that it is an original MW. I’ve just started toying with the idea of getting an early 60’s Mopar. I have one space left in the garage. I’m definitely starting to look for a complete running drivable car and a MW clone/recreation/ tribute. Something different from the Charger or Demon for local cruise ins and shows.
 
Stage 3 is a 64 car, a 63 car is Stage 1 with very few if any real Stage 2 cars. With no mention of the engine details I'm sure it's a clone, only an aluminum car should have the battery mounted in the trunk as far as I know.
 
In the early production year for the 1963 426 Max Wedge cars were referred to as Stage I.
In May 1963 until late June, Chrysler produced what is referred to Stage II 426 Max Wedge cars and in 1964 Chrysler produced what is referred to as the 426 Max Wedge Stage III cars.
I hope that helps to understand what all the Stage stuff is about.
I have a late June production model 1963 Plymouth Savoy 426 Stage II and a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere 426 Stage III.
So the error in his listing is that the car could not be a Stage III Max Wedge.

I have a suggestion for you, get a look at the fender tag and see when the car was produced, early 1963 or after May 1963. And if it is a real 426 Max Wedge, the fender tag will tell you that too.
All the best...MadMax3426
 
In the early production year for the 1963 426 Max Wedge cars were referred to as Stage I.
In May 1963 until late June, Chrysler produced what is referred to Stage II 426 Max Wedge cars and in 1964 Chrysler produced what is referred to as the 426 Max Wedge Stage III cars.
I hope that helps to understand what all the Stage stuff is about.
I have a late June production model 1963 Plymouth Savoy 426 Stage II and a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere 426 Stage III.
So the error in his listing is that the car could not be a Stage III Max Wedge.

I have a suggestion for you, get a look at the fender tag and see when the car was produced, early 1963 or after May 1963. And if it is a real 426 Max Wedge, the fender tag will tell you that too.
All the best...MadMax3426

This info that I found from Gregg Lane.

Jeff


Stage I, Stage II, Stage III Max Wedge
What does all this stage stuff mean? A lot of people including myself always thought the three stages of Max Wedge engines pertained to the year and the engine that year. I went around talking like I knew this stuff but really didn't. I called the 1962-413 Max Wedge "Stage I", the 1963-426 Max Wedge was a "Stage II" and the 1964-426 Max Wedge was a "Stage III". That's what a lot of people called them. As I began collecting Mopar technical bulletins and other unusual literature I learned the answer to the stage question.

First off, the a 413 Maximum Performance Wedge is NOT a "Stage I" Max Wedge. It is simply a 413 Maximum Performance Wedge or Max Wedge if you prefer to keep this simple. When the 1962 413 Max Wedge was dreamed up they simply called it a Max. Perf. Wedge. In 1963 the engine size was increased to 426 cubic inches and was simply referred to as the 426 Max. Perf. Wedge. They didn't start calling the 413 a "Stage I" and the new 426 a "Stage II" like some of you might think.

The way the "stage" thing got started was when Chrysler was coming out with an improved version of the already existing 426 Max Wedge Package in May 1963. The improvements included bigger carbs and an intake modified to use them, a clutch fan for less horse power robbing drag on the engine and improved cooling, some slight port machine work not on the previous 413 and 426 Max Wedge heads. They also moved the battery to the trunk for better weight distribution. The engine though, with the new improvements was still a 426 so they referred to it as a "426 Super Stock II" for the Plymouths and a "Ramcharger 426A" for the Dodges. That's where the "Stage I" and "Stage II" talk started. Then in 1964 they made some more improvemnets to the engine and it was referred to as a "426 Super Stock III" for Plymouth. The Dodge version was referred to "Ramcharger 426III". The common term became "Stage III".

So there you have it. The 413 Max Wedge was simply the 413 Max Wedge. The 426 Max Wedges are the true Stages I, II and III. Now you know the correct way to sound like you know what you are talking about. I'll bet there a few of you out there that just can't wait to correct someone out there when they call the 413 a Stage I. I know because I was waiting like a lion waiting to pounce on the first guy that screwed up in front of me. How sweet that was. Maybe later I will get a chance to get into the nuts and bolts of the details for these separate "stage" packages when I have a lot more time

Greg Lane
 
That about sums it up leaving no further questions.
Thank you for the information and I do hope that that helps others as well to understand the whole Stage stuff now.
 
Now you just have to figure out when the battery was put in the trunk & on what cars..
 
I was always under the impression that the 13 1/2 compression cars got the battery in the trunk then somebody told me it was a regular option. When they announced the aluminum option all the cars, steel cars included, got battery in the trunk somewhere around the middle of March '63. My car built April 19 has the battery in the trunk.
 
I was always under the impression that the 13 1/2 compression cars got the battery in the trunk then somebody told me it was a regular option. When they announced the aluminum option all the cars, steel cars included, got battery in the trunk somewhere around the middle of March '63. My car built April 19 has the battery in the trunk.
You are correct battery wasn't moved to the trunk until they started the aluminum cars then they just put it back there for all max wedges & I always appreciate seeing your car at carlisle.
 
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My 1963 Plymouth Savoy 426 Stage II (June 1963) steel nose has the battery in the trunk as well as my 1964 Plymouth Belvedere 426 Stage III Aluminum nose.
 
We're gonna try to have Max to Carlisle again this year. Generally he seems to be the only real Max on the field.
 
You are correct battery wasn't moved to the trunk until they started the aluminum cars then they just put it back there for all max wedges & I always appreciate seeing your car at carlisle.

The date I found was February 21, 1963 when the aluminum parts came out.
 
But it took them a while to get the battery into the trunk. Don Owen's car was built March 15, I think, and it still had the battery in the front. Like any production line change it probably had to do with supply and training.
 
The date I found was February 21, 1963 when the aluminum parts came out.

It also said in the information that was same date that the battery supposedly went in the trunk. This information was from Jim Schilds and Larry Griffiths Max Wedge book. Just what I read.
 
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