To correct a couple of points, most 1963 426 Max Wedges were not Stage 2's. While it is true that they were not originally called Stage 1's, the term was used for them as soon as the Stage 2 package was out in the spring of 1963. Pretty much the same situation occurred when the 426 Hemis began showing up in the spring of 1964. It was at the point that the Max Wedges became known as 426 Wedges, which distinguished them from the new 426 Hemis. The Max Wedge term eventually became popular by the early eighties. One other point is that all of the 1963 high compression 426's (both early models that later became known as Stage 1's and Stage 2's) had 13.5:1 compression, and not 12.5:1 compression as stated in this video. The 1964 426 Max Wedge high compression engines all had 12.5:1 compression as stated in the video. Just correcting a couple of errors, and not trying to demean anyone. My dad raced a 413/410 Savoy in 1962 for Al Roberts Plymouth, then ran a 426/415 Savoy and a 426/425 Belvedere for Al Roberts Plymouth in 1963. Late in the 1963 model year my dad purchased a new red 426/425 '63 Savoy. He raced it with a pretty good amount of success until selling it in late 1969 to take care of my mom's long recovery from two near fatal strokes that she suffered earlier that year. The car was raced by a few years couple of guys who (like my dad) took good care of it. In the mid seventies it was purchased by the first in a series of collectors. I bought the car back almost exactly 48 years after my dad sold it. It's aluminum is laser straight, and its original 61 year old upholstery looks and feels about 2-3 years old. Once I was old enough to get a license my dad helped me start my own racing endeavors...first with an original max wedge '63 Savoy that had been modified to run in B/G (and was only able to run as a bracket car), then he helped me build a '64 Dodge Polara 500 that I've raced as a NHRA stocker (with a detour for the last dozen years running mostly NSS races) since 1976. I only mention this to show how I have come to know quite a few facts (but not claiming to know everything) about 426 Max Wedges. I hope my comments are taken the way I meant them, and not as criticism. My only goal here is to pass on correct information to those who are interested.
Love your Wagon! Cool history behind the Max Wedges. Back in the early 80s there was a black ‘old Mopar’ that an old guy would bring out on to his driveway that had a wicked rumble. Back then I didn’t know what it was. Turned out to be a 63 Plymouth with the Max Wedge scoop. Don’t know if it was a real deal MW… but left an impression. Now I’m building a black 63 😅
My dad had a 1963 plymouth 426 max wedge 13.5.1 compression at 425 hp. The 426 max wedge with 11.5.1 was rated at 415 hp. Most of the Plymouth and dodge 426 in 1963 had the 415hp wedge engines. A few, like my dad's had the 425hp. I was fortunate to drive this car at the strip many times. It was a push button trans. I was 13 years old at the time
I scored a motor home 413 industrial with a reverse cam and direct drive angle cut gear timing set and ductile iorn rockers. When i pulled the heads at some poit it had been rebuilt and bored to 440 specs. I concur with 413 ind being 440s with a smaller hole but took it with a grain of salt until i looked at one apart with my own eyes. Mine has the 440 ( only one there is) part number and "440" cast into the side but "413" stamped into the id pad at the front of the block. The timing set is cool but i dont know what it would be good for.
I am not sure what you mean about a reverse cam. Do you mean reverse rotation? If so it was most likely a marine engine used in a twin engine application where one engine ran backwards to counter the propeller torque of the other engine. The 413 stamping if I understand might confirm this as well. Marine (industrial) engines remained 413's even though 440's were being used in autos and light trucks.
three things: 1. Is your intake manifold aluminum or magnesium? 2. What are the valve and combustion chamber sizes in the stage 3 heads ? 3. Absolutely agree about performance/power of your classic intake set up vs a modern single plain and a big Holley 4 barrel.
1. Max Wedge intake is aluminum. 2. I should know this but I'm pretty sure they are 72cc. They are a closed chamber design. 3. Max Wedge Stock Eliminator folks have been trying to get the Max Wedge single 4bbl Nascar intakes (there are two--short track/long track) homologated for years with no luck.
@@gaffojones yes that makes sense about NHRA not allowing the use of a 4 bbl carb. Those combustion chambers are pretty small indeed. I’ve got L89 aluminum heads on my 396 chevy. Closed chamber rectangle ports that were an option on 396, 427 and L88 Chevs. Mine are the small chambers and they’re 107 cc
I had the 413 in my Motorhome, I sold it to my brother in law because he wanted the engine to build for his Dodge Dart. I'm a new sub.
@@BobbyTucker Hi Bobby, thanks for the sub! A 413 would be a good handful in a Dart!
Nice, thank you.
Fantastic!
To correct a couple of points, most 1963 426 Max Wedges were not Stage 2's. While it is true that they were not originally called Stage 1's, the term was used for them as soon as the Stage 2 package was out in the spring of 1963. Pretty much the same situation occurred when the 426 Hemis began showing up in the spring of 1964. It was at the point that the Max Wedges became known as 426 Wedges, which distinguished them from the new 426 Hemis. The Max Wedge term eventually became popular by the early eighties. One other point is that all of the 1963 high compression 426's (both early models that later became known as Stage 1's and Stage 2's) had 13.5:1 compression, and not 12.5:1 compression as stated in this video. The 1964 426 Max Wedge high compression engines all had 12.5:1 compression as stated in the video. Just correcting a couple of errors, and not trying to demean anyone. My dad raced a 413/410 Savoy in 1962 for Al Roberts Plymouth, then ran a 426/415 Savoy and a 426/425 Belvedere for Al Roberts Plymouth in 1963. Late in the 1963 model year my dad purchased a new red 426/425 '63 Savoy. He raced it with a pretty good amount of success until selling it in late 1969 to take care of my mom's long recovery from two near fatal strokes that she suffered earlier that year. The car was raced by a few years couple of guys who (like my dad) took good care of it. In the mid seventies it was purchased by the first in a series of collectors. I bought the car back almost exactly 48 years after my dad sold it. It's aluminum is laser straight, and its original 61 year old upholstery looks and feels about 2-3 years old. Once I was old enough to get a license my dad helped me start my own racing endeavors...first with an original max wedge '63 Savoy that had been modified to run in B/G (and was only able to run as a bracket car), then he helped me build a '64 Dodge Polara 500 that I've raced as a NHRA stocker (with a detour for the last dozen years running mostly NSS races) since 1976. I only mention this to show how I have come to know quite a few facts (but not claiming to know everything) about 426 Max Wedges. I hope my comments are taken the way I meant them, and not as criticism. My only goal here is to pass on correct information to those who are interested.
Thanks, Denny.
Love your Wagon! Cool history behind the Max Wedges. Back in the early 80s there was a black ‘old Mopar’ that an old guy would bring out on to his driveway that had a wicked rumble. Back then I didn’t know what it was. Turned out to be a 63 Plymouth with the Max Wedge scoop. Don’t know if it was a real deal MW… but left an impression. Now I’m building a black 63 😅
My dad had a 1963 plymouth 426 max wedge 13.5.1 compression at 425 hp. The 426 max wedge with 11.5.1 was rated at 415 hp. Most of the Plymouth and dodge 426 in 1963 had the 415hp wedge engines. A few, like my dad's had the 425hp. I was fortunate to drive this car at the strip many times. It was a push button trans. I was 13 years old at the time
Wow!
1964....Jan and Dean........Little Old Lady From Pasadena.........and her shiny red super stock Dodge....good song...fast car...
My grandpa drove his savoy 426 max wedge every day and took it to the track on weekends
I scored a motor home 413 industrial with a reverse cam and direct drive angle cut gear timing set and ductile iorn rockers. When i pulled the heads at some poit it had been rebuilt and bored to 440 specs. I concur with 413 ind being 440s with a smaller hole but took it with a grain of salt until i looked at one apart with my own eyes. Mine has the 440 ( only one there is) part number and "440" cast into the side but "413" stamped into the id pad at the front of the block.
The timing set is cool but i dont know what it would be good for.
I am not sure what you mean about a reverse cam. Do you mean reverse rotation? If so it was most likely a marine engine used in a twin engine application where one engine ran backwards to counter the propeller torque of the other engine. The 413 stamping if I understand might confirm this as well. Marine (industrial) engines remained 413's even though 440's were being used in autos and light trucks.
three things:
1. Is your intake manifold aluminum or magnesium?
2. What are the valve and combustion chamber sizes in the stage 3 heads ?
3. Absolutely agree about performance/power of your classic intake set up vs a modern single plain and a big Holley 4 barrel.
1. Max Wedge intake is aluminum.
2. I should know this but I'm pretty sure they are 72cc. They are a closed chamber design.
3. Max Wedge Stock Eliminator folks have been trying to get the Max Wedge single 4bbl Nascar intakes (there are two--short track/long track) homologated for years with no luck.
@@gaffojones yes that makes sense about NHRA not allowing the use of a 4 bbl carb.
Those combustion chambers are pretty small indeed. I’ve got L89 aluminum heads on my 396 chevy. Closed chamber rectangle ports that were an option on 396, 427 and L88 Chevs. Mine are the small chambers and they’re 107 cc
Is that the War Wagon ?? I remember that back in the day. 😍
No, but the War Wagon was definitely an inspiration!
I got a 4:13 Maxi wedge Dodge polara 500 incredible engine
was told the 383 in my 1965 Coronet 500 , received chrome valve covers when installed in the ragtop model .
is this true ?
I honestly couldn’t tell you but I have seen them enough to believe it.
Lookin’ pretty and having fun….thanks for the video…when and where is your next race?
Tomorrow at Pacific Raceway.
It’s basically a big block LA race motor.