Max Wedge cross ram question for those who have one.

[Centerline]

Trying to decide whether to go resto mod or Max Wedge tribute with my '64 Polara. The big question I have is exactly how streetable is the dual quad crossram? I would not be running ridiculously high compression nor an over the top cam but something around 9.5:1 and a nice hydraulic MP muscle car cam along with an overdrive 833 and 323 gears. Strictly a weekend street car. So with a set of matched AFB's how streetable is that manifold carb combo on a mild performance 440???

 

[khryslerkid]

With the lower cr you're talking you will be fine. The original high compression wasn't very street friendly and would have a hard time with today's pump gas.
There are a few on here that own and drive them, I'll let them take over from here.
(We also require some pics in order to release anymore info!)

 

[Centerline]

Its awaiting restoration right now. We moved so I have to build a new "shop" before the work can start. Just in the planning stages at the moment.

I've owned this car for a little over 10 years and I'm the second owner. Its driveable and an original numbers matching 383 4speed car. Here's a pic when I was doing the brakes, converting the rear drums to slip on and cleaning the fuel system a couple years ago. I have every piece of trim and almost every part I need to do a complete restoration, just trying to decide which direction to take.

 

[khryslerkid]

Sounds like the story with my '62 I've had for six years now. Finally starting on some engine advancements this year.

I have a real soft spot with the '64s, being my first Mopar when I was eighteen. You have a great one there, being a four speed! It all takes time!

 

[lewtot184]

an edelbrock ch28 might be an alternative to the cross ram. definitely cheaper. i'm using one with a pair of 600 edelbrocks in '65 coronet. the dual plane intake is very street friendly. starts, drives and runs nicely. the only tuning headache i had was calibrating the idle circut on the back carb to run with a vacuum advance distributor. the down side is brackets. the stock throttle cable bracket will work, return spring brackets would be needed along with a coil bracket or re-location. less than half the price of the cross ram and i seriously doubt there's any power loss over the cross ram in street trim.

 

[Centerline]

The inline setup would not fit the "Max Wedge" theme but if I don't go with the crossram then the build will pretty much be a resto mod with a FAST fuel injection setup on a 470 (stroked 400). Just trying to find out if the people that run the crossram think its streetable for a mild 440 build. Cost of the manifold and linkage would be just about the same as a FAST FI setup so that's not really an issue. I already have a matched set of AFB's.

 

[coloradodave]

I run the factory crossram with 2 500 cfm Edelbrock carburetors on my driver, which gets driven most days. 440 with ported/polished max wedge heads, 10:1 compression, MSD with 16* in initial and 34* total in at 2,800 rpm, 284 duration .510 lift hydraulic street cam, 4 speed and 3.91 rear-end. I have manual chokes on both carburetors which helps with the warm-ups when the temperature gets below about 50*, otherwise I don't need them. After an initial warm-up of about 3-4 minutes to put some heat in the intake manifold, the car runs great. No hesitation, smooth idle at 950 rpm and sharp acceleration.
I love the look of the crossram with the stock air cleaners so that's the reason I run it. If it was a race car or I was looking for maximum performance on the street I would look at a different set-up utilizing a single large Holley.

 

[383man]

I love the Max Wedge look as I love the look of Coloradodave's crossram setup. My 63 was an original 383 car also and I gave the car the 60's SS Max Wedge look on the outside but I went more for performance under the hood. I knew the crossram was a pricey setup and I wanted a simple good fast combo. So I went with Indy EZ heads and the Indy dual plane intake with an 850 Holley DP. I just dont have that Awesome Maxie look under the hood but I do have my full exh pump gas 10 second et's. I see alot of guys on the street run the crossrams and they all seem to run good. Please keep us posted with pics of your car as you build it and the eng. It will have that look that makes people stand back and take a second look with the cool crossram setup. Do you have your crossram setup yet as I know you can get them new from A & A trans as thats one place that sells them new. ? Good luck with your build. Ron

 

[hogpowr]

you have one more option... Mopar Muscle ( i believe) might have been mopar action did an article on A&A new version of the crossram. it isn't a perfect match for the original cross rams, but looks pretty close for most people. It appears to have run and dynoed better than the original crossrams. They aren't cheap, but they are worth looking at. I haven't run one. My buddy runs nostalgia super stock with A&A's cross ram and it runs great. However its not a street car either.. Good luck.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

There are quite a few members here running max wedge cross rams on mild motors and the general consensus is they are not the PITA that some people claim. Poor manners would likely be more attributable to excessive CR, oversized carbs and big cams... No reason why a good combination should not work well. Plus crossrams look so cool!!!!!!!!

BTW, I like your '64 Centreline, will be lovely when done. Also I just realised you are a member of the HAMB, with a early Hemi rod, yeah?! Nice!!

 

[Centerline]

The deuce in my avitar is the car you're talking about. I've been building early hemis for a few years now. Did a '53 Chevy pickup with a '54 331 and my deuce which has a '55 331. These early hemis are fantastic but not cheap to build by any means. The Polara has been patiently waiting its turn and now that our new house is done I can get started building my new shop and finally start the disassembly. It will have to wait till spring as I will have back surgery in about a month and will need a couple months to recuperate. I have been on the HAMB for a while, but I don't post much, mainly because Ryan is such an assh**e.

 

[Pahighlander]

I have the A&A cross ram setup on mine and it drives fine. I drive about 2K miles per year on mine wothout any trouble.

 

[dvw]

Put one together for a friend. 64 Fury convertible. Original 3705 (750 cfm) and cross ram, Eddy heads, 10.5-1, 550 hyd, 3.55, 5 speed manual. Drives like it is fuel injected once it's been running about 5 minutes.
Doug

 

[Centerline]

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like it could be a streetable setup.

 

[Darter6]

Several have hit on the key,,you have to allow enough warm up before drive time.Sounds like you have the right plan in your original post.

 

[ilm65]

I have the A&A cross ram setup on mine and it drives fine. I drive about 2K miles per year on mine wothout any trouble. View attachment 215571

I'm right there with Pahighlander--A&A set up including their kickdown linkage along with 2-600 CFM Eddy's--runs absolutely GREAT and love the "Wow Factor" when the hood is raised!!!

 

[Histoy]

I had an original 426 cross ram 4 speed with 11 to 1 pistons. It had a Mopar 509 cam, but I reduced the carbs from 750 to 625 cfm. I set the initial timing at 18 degrees with 36 total advance ( no vac adv). It had a manual choke on each carb, and ran fine around town after it warmed up.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

It will have to wait till spring as I will have back surgery in about a month and will need a couple months to recuperate. I have been on the HAMB for a while, but I don't post much, mainly because Ryan is such an assh**e.

Good luck with it and I hope you recuperate quickly.

I also hope FBBO is a much less "assh**ly" place for you to post and hangout...

 

[Centerline]

I belong to several forums and the only one where I have any kind of a problem is the HAMB. Lots of good people there and lots of talent too, just not fond of Ryan. My argument with him goes way back, probably 15 years or more. Long before he and the core members of the HAMB became "civilized."

This place on the other hand, is one of my favorites.

 

[Rick62]

I'm running an A&A repop cross ram with 500cfm Edelbrocks in my '62 sedan. It has a mild hydraulic roller cam. It's very streetable. My other '62 has a CH28 inline with the same carbs. I would say the only downside of the cross ram setup is it's a little cold blooded until it gets warmed up, which only takes a few miles. I would definitely do the cross ram again if I had to do it over. You can't beat the look.