My dad started racing Max Wedges in 1962, driving a new Plymouth savoy 413 for the Al Roberts Plymouth dealership in Southern California. Two new 1963 Plymouth 426's followed. Late in the 1963 model year he bought a new 13.5:1 compression 426 super stock '63 Plymouth Savoy (one of fifty with a factory aluminum front end). He raced that car with a lot of success throughout the sixties, selling it in late 1969 to care for my mom's long recovery from two near fatal strokes that she suffered early that year at age 40. It was raced for a more few years, then purchased by a series of collectors. After losing track of its whereabouts for around 35 years I was contacted by its most recent collector/owner in 2014. I shared some information about its racing days, and sent copies of photos and racing publications in which the car had been featured when my dad had won or made it to a final round of an event. In 2017 its owner was in the process of buying an original factory 1968 Hemi Dart. He offered to sell my dad's car to me. A few weeks later it arrived at my home in an enclosed transporter, and is still here with the '64 Dodge 426 Max Wedge/4 speed that my dad and I built for NHRA stock class racing when I was in my late teens in the mid seventies. My dad's car is far too original (and still in nearly brand new condition) to race now, but I am still racing the Dodge in the NHRA B/S class.
I'm not sure I'd call the Max Wedge an "unsung" hero. It's pretty famous. It's also literally sung, as in "Little Ol' Lady from Pasadena" by the Beach Boys!
Really, The Regular Mopar 413 In. Engine Happens To Be The 426 Hemi's Grandfather, The Same Goes Concerning The 413 In. Max Wedge To Be The 426 In. Max Wedge! That's Means, The Regular 413 In. Engine Happens To Be Today's 426 In. Hemi Engine = Great Grandfather, Correct!!!
Yes, but the Max Wedge used different heads, intake, camshaft, rods, higher compression pistons, and even special blocks (to new some of the differences). A 440 can be used to build a Max Wedge engine (using the Max Wedge top end) if originality is not necessary.
For those not in the know, the Wedge is and was the Pro Stock Mopar engine.....Hemi engines need blowers to work, the valve angles are wrong for acceleration....it was designed for "put your foot on the floor and leave it there".....Nascar racing.
You are wrong about the Hemi in NHRA. I set two NHRA World Records with the one of a kind factory made HEMI WAGON. A/FX, S/S and B/FX records were all Hemi powered in '64, '65,and 66. Try to outrun our Golden Commando #5 car or the Ramchsgers'. I was there and drove Hemi's and saw their dominance!
No '63 or 64 Wedge or Hemi 6:28 6:28 ran in the 10's. Our A/FX Hemi hit 11:08 at best. It was an original Golden Commando #5 car. Interesting how people who weren't there brag about things they didn't witness!
Hey Chris, that Dart sure had an ugly from section.
What a sleeper.
Cheers! 👍💪✌
Yeah😂
My dad started racing Max Wedges in 1962, driving a new Plymouth savoy 413 for the Al Roberts Plymouth dealership in Southern California. Two new 1963 Plymouth 426's followed. Late in the 1963 model year he bought a new 13.5:1 compression 426 super stock '63 Plymouth Savoy (one of fifty with a factory aluminum front end). He raced that car with a lot of success throughout the sixties, selling it in late 1969 to care for my mom's long recovery from two near fatal strokes that she suffered early that year at age 40. It was raced for a more few years, then purchased by a series of collectors. After losing track of its whereabouts for around 35 years I was contacted by its most recent collector/owner in 2014. I shared some information about its racing days, and sent copies of photos and racing publications in which the car had been featured when my dad had won or made it to a final round of an event. In 2017 its owner was in the process of buying an original factory 1968 Hemi Dart. He offered to sell my dad's car to me. A few weeks later it arrived at my home in an enclosed transporter, and is still here with the '64 Dodge 426 Max Wedge/4 speed that my dad and I built for NHRA stock class racing when I was in my late teens in the mid seventies. My dad's car is far too original (and still in nearly brand new condition) to race now, but I am still racing the Dodge in the NHRA B/S class.
I'm not sure I'd call the Max Wedge an "unsung" hero. It's pretty famous. It's also literally sung, as in "Little Ol' Lady from Pasadena" by the Beach Boys!
Really, The Regular Mopar 413 In. Engine Happens To Be The 426 Hemi's Grandfather, The Same Goes Concerning The 413 In. Max Wedge To Be The 426 In. Max Wedge! That's Means, The Regular 413 In. Engine Happens To Be Today's 426 In. Hemi Engine = Great Grandfather, Correct!!!
They increased the bore from 4.125' to 4.25' to increase from 413 to 426. they both have the 3.75' stroke.
Cross Ram. Nothing more beautiful 🤩. That's made of metal 🪙
I have spare max wedge if you want to buy and build one
Hot wheels babby cool
The 383 and 440 are still wedge engines?
It’s from the wedge shaped combustion cambers in the heads right?, always wondered about the angle of the V8
Yes, but the Max Wedge used different heads, intake, camshaft, rods, higher compression pistons, and even special blocks (to new some of the differences). A 440 can be used to build a Max Wedge engine (using the Max Wedge top end) if originality is not necessary.
For those not in the know, the Wedge is and was the Pro Stock Mopar engine.....Hemi engines need blowers to work, the valve angles are wrong for acceleration....it was designed for "put your foot on the floor and leave it there".....Nascar racing.
You are wrong about the Hemi in NHRA. I set two NHRA World Records with the one of a kind factory made HEMI WAGON. A/FX, S/S and B/FX records were all Hemi powered in '64, '65,and 66. Try to outrun our Golden Commando #5 car or the Ramchsgers'. I was there and drove Hemi's and saw their dominance!
Sox & Martin never used a blower.
Love Max Wedge cars . Mines a 63 Savoy .
Melrose Missile was first to break 10s also.
No '63 or 64 Wedge or Hemi 6:28 6:28 ran in the 10's. Our A/FX Hemi hit 11:08 at best. It was an original Golden Commando #5 car. Interesting how people who weren't there brag about things they didn't witness!