Max wedge dilemma....

[Brandy]

So... after due consideration and plenty of research, I find that a "MAX WEDGE" can be built out of a 440 wedge motor for cheap. My question is what does everyone think of having a Max Wedge motor in a '67 Coronet? Blasphemy? Craziness? Discuss...

 

[Deleted member 214]

Go for it!:headbang:

 

[Brandy]

Go for it!:headbang:

Loan me some dough...lol. I wish I could find a picture of a '67 Coronet with a Max Wedge in it..

 

[mopar 3 B]

Why not?

 

[coloradodave]

Well, yes and no... Externally the 426 and 440 are identical, so looks wise, if you use an aftermarket crossram you can call it a max wedge if you want to. What made the max wedge different were the internals and the heads, where the ports are about 25% larger than the stock 426 or 440 heads. In other words, the actual factory max wedge head ports won't match stock 426/440 intake or exhaust manifold ports and vise versa. In the end, of course, you can do it however you want to...

 

[cryplydog]

can you build a hemi? good luck anyhow.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I had a Max Wedge in my 68 Road Runner. If that's what you have to work with do it. You will need a hood scoop because the cross ram won't clear with air cleaners on. Or just take the hood off like I did.

 

[383man]

Well, yes and no... Externally the 426 and 440 are identical, so looks wise, if you use an aftermarket crossram you can call it a max wedge if you want to. What made the max wedge different were the internals and the heads, where the ports are about 25% larger than the stock 426 or 440 heads. In other words, the actual factory max wedge head ports won't match stock 426/440 intake or exhaust manifold ports and vise versa. In the end, of course, you can do it however you want to...

Dave is right. Externally the Max Wedge and 440 are the same as it depends on the intake and exh manifolds as to what someone will think is under your hood. Most likely about 95% of the Max Wedge cars out there have 440 blocks in them since they physically look the same and they made a ton more 440's then Max Wedge engines and its cheaper and just make sense to use the 440 lower end. Even up top if you use headers and an aftermarket single carb intake on a Max Wedge no one will know its a Max Wedge because it wont look like one. So what I am saying is do what I did and just build your bigblock like you want to and if you want the Max Wedge look just use the Maxie intake and exh manifolds as you can get the crossram in standard ports also. I painted my 440/493 orange like a Max Wedge as since they came stock in my car I like to call it a Max Wedge and even have it on the side of my scoop. But I use a single four carb as it was much cheaper to run it then the crossram and many modern single carb intakes will make more power then the 50 year old crossram technology. There really is not many real Max Wedge engines out ther anymore but you can build a nice 440 with modern parts that will make more power then a stock Max Wedge and will be even easier to drive on the street. Basically build the bigblock eng you want to and if you want to call it a Max Wedge just use the crossram and call it a Max Wedge as no one will know other then some number matching nut who will try to read numbers on the eng and car. I want the max Wedge look under my hood but why build one to stock Maxie specs and make 450 hp when you can build what you want and make 600 or more hp and still give it the Max Wedge look if you want to. In the Factory Stock class racing they have where you have to use the original type build the car had is where I would love to built a Max Wedge because against engines built to stock specs it will kick butt as long as all the other cars are built to their stock specs. I know Ed Cook built his 63 Savoy Max Wedge for the FAST class where they have to look stock outside but you can do about what you want inside the eng and its one of the fastest cars in the class as its run 10.30's and it looks bone stock when you open the hood. Ron

 

[6t4polara]

So... after due consideration and plenty of research, I find that a "MAX WEDGE" can be built out of a 440 wedge motor for cheap. My question is what does everyone think of having a Max Wedge motor in a '67 Coronet? Blasphemy? Craziness? Discuss

How do you build a Max Wedge for cheap?

 

[Brandy]

Well, yes and no... Externally the 426 and 440 are identical, so looks wise, if you use an aftermarket crossram you can call it a max wedge if you want to. What made the max wedge different were the internals and the heads, where the ports are about 25% larger than the stock 426 or 440 heads. In other words, the actual factory max wedge head ports won't match stock 426/440 intake or exhaust manifold ports and vise versa. In the end, of course, you can do it however you want to...

Yes, I read about that. The Max Wedge ports are like sewer pipes compared to the stock wedge heads and really makes a mess out of the flow. However, I don't plan on building for 600 HP either and don't really need INDY EZ heads to match up ports. On the other hand I could use the entire setup from INDY and have the New A&A Max Wedge intake that perfectly matches the stock wedge ports. 480 - 540 HP is way more than enough.

- - - Updated - - -

So... after due consideration and plenty of research, I find that a "MAX WEDGE" can be built out of a 440 wedge motor for cheap. My question is what does everyone think of having a Max Wedge motor in a '67 Coronet? Blasphemy? Craziness? Discuss

How do you build a Max Wedge for cheap?

You can do it for less than 7500.00 bucks using the A&A maxie crossram and
stick it on a cast crank motorhome 440( mine is steel). With 9.75:1 compression, a mild hydraulic cam, box-stock Edelbrock 500s, and light bowl blending on the motorhome heads, you can get 436.9 hp at 5,500 rpm and 491.2 lb-ft of torque at 4,100 rpm on 91-octane unleaded pump gas. Or so says the article that I read. It sports a complete list of parts and pieces to get 'er done. That's a win/win to me.

 

[super-bee_ski]

This is my 440 built as a 426 Max Wedge
A&A transmission Aluminum manifold set-up
Built by Mr Dale Reed, Baldwin Park, CA (Max Wedge expert)
This engine is 600HP

 

[Brandy]

This is my 440 built as a 426 Max Wedge
A&A transmission Aluminum manifold set-up
Built by Mr Dale Reed, Baldwin Park, CA (Max Wedge expert)
This engine is 600HP

Very nice! In the HOT ROD mag article they bought and applied "Ramcharger 426" stickers to the valve covers after the build. They used a '77 440 from a motorhome. Reminds me of IQ52's thread about building the low compression 440.. Also it is very correct that you wont be finding any original MAX Wedge stuff unless your lucky or rich as Superstockers and restorers are using them all up. My new friend Bruce has some max wedge stuff but prying out of his old gnarly hands is another matter!!lol.

- - - Updated - - -

I had a Max Wedge in my 68 Road Runner. If that's what you have to work with do it. You will need a hood scoop because the cross ram won't clear with air cleaners on. Or just take the hood off like I did.

Your right about the hood clearance. It's why I have been looking for a WR023 scoop for a few weeks now here on FBBO.

On another note, i'm close to finishing the now flat trunk floor in my '67. Next up is the gas filler being removed and the door sewed shut. Then a Charger flip top and surrounding sheet metal will be grafted in on the forward trunk lip and the trunk curved around that so the seal will flow around it all like it was stock to begin with..


Like on this 65 Impala..

 

[lewtot184]

personally; i don't think they're worth the expense, unless you have a 62-64.

 

[super-bee_ski]

A REAL Max Wedge is a nasty beast...
My Bud owns one here 45 miles from me in So Cal.
When he starts it up, it takes him 30 minutes to "warm it up" so he can drive it.
THIS IS NOT A "JOKE" NOR embellishment, He said it is very NASTY.
He's about 70 now, he is NOT into making up stories for fun.
These Max Wedge cars were NOT for the Street!
They were (and are) Race engines...
NASTY...temperamental, not user friendly...
He goes to Spring Fling, Van Nuys every year. And fall fling to.
See pics below:

 

[Brandy]

I agree that they are beasts when u have a real Max Wedge. I am more looking for the look and a bit of HP and torque. Really just a mild warm up from stock 440. I like how the MW looks and i'm thinking about how I want my engine bay to look when I get there. Prior planning...

 

[Budnicks]

Build it... Enjoy

see my signature

 

[Brandy]

amen brother.

 

[dvw]

I'm surprised it won't fit under a 68 hood. Fits with air cleaners under a 62-65 hood buy removing the bracing.
Doug

 

[snakeoil24]

Beautiful!

 

[383man]

A REAL Max Wedge is a nasty beast...
My Bud owns one here 45 miles from me in So Cal.
When he starts it up, it takes him 30 minutes to "warm it up" so he can drive it.
THIS IS NOT A "JOKE" NOR embellishment, He said it is very NASTY.
He's about 70 now, he is NOT into making up stories for fun.
These Max Wedge cars were NOT for the Street!
They were (and are) Race engines...
NASTY...temperamental, not user friendly...
He goes to Spring Fling, Van Nuys every year. And fall fling to.
See pics below:

I agree the max Wedges were beast back in the 60's but there are much nastier built cars driving the street today. I mean if I put a stock Max Wedge eng in my 63 it would be slower as I know Hot Rod took an 11.5 comp 63 Plymouth 415 hp Max Wedge and ran 12.60's @ 112 with just the cutouts open and cheater slicks which were not much in 1963. You figure 112 mph today should get you low 12's to high 11's. I cant see how he can take 30 minutes before he can drive his Max Wedge if he lives in 70 degree and hotter temps. Heck I run a solid flat tappet thats .585 and .592 lift and 264 & 270 @ .050 duration and I dont even have a crossover passage in my EZ heads. And I can fire up my 63 and be driving it within 5 minutes with no problem. I dont run as much comp as I run 10.6 but honestly stock Max Wedges and any muscle car from the 60's are tame compared to some cars I see guys drive on the street today. Dont get me wrong as I love the Max Wedges as thats why I own my 63 Sport Fury and I feel they were about the fastest production muscle car Mopar made back then. But if I built a stock Max Wedge and used it in my 63 it would most likely run low 12's or high 11's as we have much better converters today then back then. My point is why build an eng to Max Wedge specs when you can build something stronger today and just add the crossram and exh manifolds and you have a Max Wedge built the way you like. Heck I see cars on the street with much nastier cams then I run in my 63. So you should build what you want and then add the crossram and call it a Max Wedge that way you can use todays technology for your cam , cyl heads and so on. In my eyes this eng is my single carb Max Wedge eng in my 63 Plymouth but it will run 10's on pump gas through the full exh just like I drive it. Even though its a 440 with a 4.15 crank for 493 cubes it still physically looks like it could be a 426 Max Wedge with EZ heads and a single carb intake with headers . Ron