1969,,A/SA,,63' Max Wedge vs. Street Hemi

[Chris Barnes]

I find it interesting that the NHRA has never refactored the 415/425 hp ratings on the 63-64 Max Wedges in almost fifty years. I know they recently lowered the 62s. I'd love to run my big wagon in D/SA...

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...1&d=1318700576

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

[Paul Ceasrine]

On a little engine comparison.

1963 426/425HP Max-Wedge
13.5 to 1 Pistons
Cross-Ram Intake
#3447 Carter 625 AFB's
.509/.509 Solid-lift camshaft
Stage II Heads

vs.

1968 426/425HP Street-Hemi
10.25 to 1 Pistons
In-Line Intake
#4430 Carter 625 AVS's
.477/.480 Solid-lift camshaft
Cast-iron Heads

[Paul Ceasrine]

May 1969,,,,,,,,Dover Drag Strip, Wingdale, New York

Northeast Raider,,,,,,,,A/SA
1963 Plymouth Belvedere
426/425HP Stage II Max-Wedge (Aluminum-nose with Ram-Air)
11.90's @ 118 MPH.

versus

1968 Dodge Coronet R/T,,,,,A/SA
426/425 HP Street-Hemi
12.40's @ 115 MPH

May 1969

[Hemi Moose]

I wonder how many street hemi's got killed by the max-wedges or better yet how many street hemi's won against any max-wedge cars? Does anyone have anymore info or photos on this.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Moose,

Back in 1969, most of the guys who had 68' or 69' Street Hemi's
were relunctant to race them,,,,,,,
More value in keeping them 'stock or in near stock condition'.

Those who did race them,,,while still on the street,,,,,
never really went full out with 'race preperation'.....
Most just threw on a set of Hooker Headers, maybe 4.10 or 4.56 gears and a pair of 7" slicks.
And were happy to run 12.60's.

In 1969, most, if not all of the top A/SA cars were 63' or 64' Max-Wedge cars.

If you had a good running 'Hemi', you were running in Super/Stock.

pc

[DeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

May 1969,,,,,,,,Dover Drag Strip, Wingdale, New York

Northeast Raider,,,,,,,,A/SA
1963 Plymouth Belvedere
426/425HP Stage II Max-Wedge (Aluminum-nose with Ram-Air)
11.90's @ 118 MPH.

versus

1968 Dodge Coronet R/T,,,,,A/SA
426/425 HP Street-Hemi
12.40's @ 115 MPH

May 1969

Steve, Thanks for the reply, sadly that makes sense. The good old max wedge I feel would have done well all through the post-1964 era but lived in the Hemi's shadow. I'm sure factory backing for the Max Wedge cars/drivers was pulled in favor of the Hemi as you said.


Looking at Paul's race comparison above, I was reassured, I get about the same from my Gonkulator:
11.64 at 120.0 63 MaxWedge II 3220 lb 1964 prep, 1969 A/SA rules
12.16 at 115.7 69 Street Hemi 3677 lb 1969 A/SA rules


The MaxWedge2 gonkulates to about 515hp vs the StreetHemi at 500hp. Close, but there's still the 400 lb weight difference.


Fords 64 LWG HiRiser, which per the results/records dominated AA/SA=7.00 in 1964-66, Gonkulates to
12.12 at 115.9 1964 prep
11.75 at 119.5 1965-66 era prep


UNFACTORED, the MaxWedge hangs right in there vs either the 1964-66 era 64 Ford LWG or the Street Hemi from 66-up in the same w/p=7.00 class.


That's why I cant figure, why didn't Mopar back the MaxWedge as a competitor in AA/S, AA/SA ? I guessed it was Factored, but if not, I guess it was just "shunned" in favor of the Hemi. Oh well!