Mopar Max Wedge: The Engine that started the Muscle Car Craze
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
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In the realm of muscle cars, the Dodge and Plymouth Max Wedge V8 may not be a name that instantly springs to mind, but it holds a pivotal place in the annals of automotive history. You see In the early 1960s, years before the muscle car craze reached its zenith, these unsung heroes were setting drag strips ablaze and laying the groundwork for a revolution that would lead to the muscle car era.
Now To truly understand the Max Wedge's significance, we must rewind to a time when the term "muscle car" had not yet been coined. In the late 1950s, Chrysler Corporation's quest for dominance on the drag strip was already in full swing. Their first-generation HEMI engines were potent, but they didn't quite fit into the intermediates of the era. Consequently, the HEMI was retired in 1958, making room for what would become the Max Wedge Engine.
In 1962, the automotive landscape witnessed a seismic shift as Chrysler unleashed the Max Wedge 413. And This was no ordinary engine; it was a fire-breathing 413 cubic inches monster of raw power, purpose-built to dominate the drag strip. The Max Wedge received a plethora of performance enhancements, from strengthened internals to a high-lift cam, a bespoke intake manifold with dual 650-cfm Carter AFB carbs, Giving it its unique look and custom heads with larger ports and valves. Now just to give you an idea of what a monster this engine was, this massive V8 boasted a compression ratio of 13.5:1
Intressting fact the unique wedge-shaped combustion chambers gave this engine the “Max Wedge” name. for those that wondered anyways
This formidable powerplant was not intended for the faint-hearted. Available in select Dodge and Plymouth intermediates (with station wagons being the only exception), it was marketed as the Ram-Charger 413 for Dodge and the Super Stock 413 for Plymouth. The Max Wedge packed a punch with power ratings ranging from 410 to 420 horsepower, depending on the compression ratio. Notably, the Plymouth Savoy, affectionately dubbed the "Melrose Missile," etched its name into the annals of drag racing history by becoming the first factory stock car to breach the eleven-second quarter-mile mark, clocking in at a blistering 11.93 seconds in the summer of '62. That time is fast by todays standards, I mean the 2023 BMW M3 rwd sedan completes the quarter mile in 11.6 Seconds. And these new BMWs are stupid quick.
But While these engines where technically street-legal, living with a Max Wedge engine on a daily basis was not for the faint of heart. The long-duration camshaft, designed for high-speed performance, resulted in a rough idle and lackluster low-speed response. And then there was the thirst for fuel, a voracious appetite that made it a true gas-guzzler, far from economical.
Now In anticipation of the 1963 racing season, NHRA made the strategic choice to impose a displacement limit of 427.2 cubic inches for factory Super Stock vehicles. Consequently, it's no mere coincidence that both Ford's 427 and Mopar's 426 engines were meticulously developed for the 1963 racing season. These powerful engines could be readily ordered in special factory lightweight variants of Super Stock-qualified models.
And for this change in rules the Max Wedge underwent a transformation. Engineers increased its stroke from 3.18 inches to 3.75 inches, resulting in a new displacement of 426 cubic inches. This Stage II version was available in two configurations, each boasting different compression ratios and power outputs. However, even with these enhancements, the Max Wedge wasn't destined to be the star of the show for long.
The Max Wedge was ultimately overshadowed by the arrival of the legendary street HEMI 426. With more street-friendly characteristics, the HEMI quickly stole the limelight, and the Max Wedge gradually faded into the background.
#Mopar #Wedge #MaxWedge #V8
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.
Cross Ram. Nothing more beautiful 🤩. That's made of metal 🪙
Hey Chris, that Dart sure had an ugly from section.
What a sleeper.
Cheers! 👍💪✌
Yeah😂
They increased the bore from 4.125' to 4.25' to increase from 413 to 426. they both have the 3.75' stroke.
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!
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!
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.
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.
I have spare max wedge if you want to buy and build one
Hot wheels babby cool