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Max Wedge tribute 440

MWFan

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Recently discovered that A&A Transmission sells a MW type cross ram for a 440 and also has MW style exhaust manifolds available. Thinking about trying to create a "tribute" Max Wedge motor out of my Magnum clone motor. It has 452 heads, purple shaft 284/484 cam, approx 9.3/1 compression. It has a 727 pushbutton, stock converter, 3.54 Dana.
Anybody running something like this?
Thoughts? Cool? Crazy?
 
452s don't have max wedge ports. So,, not good.
 
I'm not sure, but Rick over at A&A, may have a MW intake, for the smaller ports ? I'm using his set up, on my 440, but with new MW heads...
1025201528.jpg
 
A&A has two versions of the max intake, one is max size, the other standard 440 size.
I like the idea, but im sure you realize, it wont be cheap! My guess, for intake, carbs, throttle linkages, air cleaners, exhaust manifolds, and exhaust system.... $2500? More?
 
Intake system, $2500
Exhaust system, $2000
Approx prices, from years ago...
 
A&A has two versions of the max intake, one is max size, the other standard 440 size.
I like the idea, but im sure you realize, it wont be cheap! My guess, for intake, carbs, throttle linkages, air cleaners, exhaust manifolds, and exhaust system.... $2500? More?
I'm figuring $2500 just for the manifolds (intake and exhaust). The linkages and air cleaners are mucho dineros also...not to mention carbs.
 
It's cool for sure..... but you'd never see me spending money like that on "clone" when you could do "REAL" for the same money. 452 heads would not be my first choice on any build but a restoration project. Just my two cents for sure, but I'd do it all max wedge for sure, and strong chance those parts will hold their value for you much longer than the other (clone) way.
 
A friend of mine had the complete 440 induction on his 446 in a 66 or 67 coronet.
Just used hp manifolds for the exhaust.

Ran pretty good actually.

It was a pretty mild build, and he used the Ede avs 500 carbs.

340rwhp on a dyno net.
 
It's cool for sure..... but you'd never see me spending money like that on "clone" when you could do "REAL" for the same money. 452 heads would not be my first choice on any build but a restoration project. Just my two cents for sure, but I'd do it all max wedge for sure, and strong chance those parts will hold their value for you much longer than the other (clone) way.
Wouldn't a "real" MW require a 413 or a 426 and MW heads? Maybe it's just me but I'm afraid I might not be able to do that for the "same money".
And wouldn't a real Max Wedge motor have a compression ratio that would require race fuel?
I've also heard the original Max Wedge cars didnt have a reputation for great street manners...
This is probably a pipe dream anyway. I wasn't aware the parts were available at all. I began thinking about this when Nick's Garage did a dyno test of the Mopar "high performance" exhaust manifolds (which I have currently) vs. Max Wedge exhaust manifolds vs. big tube headers on a 440. The Max Wedge manifolds alone gained 35 hp over the hipo manifolds, and the headers made only 4 hp more. That pretty impressive for cast iron. It just got me thinking....
 
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A friend of mine had the complete 440 induction on his 446 in a 66 or 67 coronet.
Just used hp manifolds for the exhaust.



Ran pretty good actually.

It was a pretty mild build, and he used the Ede avs 500 carbs.

340rwhp on a dyno net.


Pretty impressive considering the dyno test of the MW exhaust manifolds gained another 35 hp over the hp exhaust. This was on an A12. Not sure if the 6 pack manifold has any flow improvement over a cross ram. I would guess the crossram should win that one.
 
Pretty impressive considering the dyno test of the MW exhaust manifolds gained another 35 hp over the hp exhaust. This was on an A12. Not sure if the 6 pack manifold has any flow improvement over a cross ram. I would guess the crossram should win that one.
While there is no doubt that the max intake is awesome to look at, i dont think i would expect a huge performance bump from it.
I changed out a tm-7 tarantula that had been welded up to work with the maxwedge heads on my 440 bracket car, (850 dp) for an original maxwedge intake with two 750 competition carters. After tuning the carters the performance improvement was......nothing.
Doug ( DVW) tested an original intake against an indy "crossram" (chuckle!), on his engine, and the indy was almost a hundred horspower better.
 
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Nothing looks as Badass as a cross ram Maxie! If you have the $$$ and the desire, just do it. For a street car, the 452's and the small port cross ram should be O.K. Put a couple of 500 CFM carbs on it instead of original Maxie 750's. You will likely only be running 9.5 compression on a street motor instead of 12.0.
 
Yes they do sell one with the stock 440 intake ports. Occasionally they come up for sale used but they sell fast. Yes, it's more for show than anything but it's still a dual quad cross ram and I've been told they run pretty decent on a typical big block. You should be able to find a pair of good used 450-500 cfm carbs cheap and can use 225 slant six air cleaner lids with cheapie drop bases. The intake plugs are the same as a 7-1/4 rear axle plug.
 
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mancini racing has them for 440 for 3195 dollars as shown

440-cross-ram-induction-package-24.jpg
 
If you can't spend on a MW clone setup? Then why even have money? Jezz.

SHORT ANSWER....Invest the $$$$ in the stock market, for now is the time to buy the "transitory prices" dip due to our incompetent pres. and his policies. Microsoft, Boeing, McDonalds, Pimco (there are several cstagories that pays ~ 10%/month dividend), BitCoin, Lithium mining stocks, etc. BTW....where can you get 10%/month dividend (cash) .... a CD, bank account??....not likely. Anyone of these companies will MAKE you money.....several orders of magnitude better than buying parts and making something that less than 0.005% of the population knows or cares about. Try driving your (generically speaking) max wedge clone to the grocery store and see what that nets you.....balogna or prime rib? Just my opinion of course....its your $$, spend it as you wish....me? I'm invested.....
BOB RENTON
 
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