Chrysler was looking to improve the low and mid range torque on their full-sized cars in 1960, so they began offering the two-piece, long-ram induction system on their big-block 413ci wedge engines. The 413 Wedge with a 4-barrel carb produced 340 horsepower at 4,600 rpm. The added long-ram induction, with a runner length that reached an amazing 30-inches, the engine torque peaked anywhere from 2,800 to 4,800 rpm. This made for lightning fast getaways, but the extra long runners meant that the top end power struggled above 5,000 rpm.
Realizing that they had to do something to compete in the pending musclecar wars, Chrysler shortened the runner length to 15-inches so the big-block engines could breath better at the top end. The result was a aluminum cast one-piece intake manifold, when mounted to the new Maximum Performance cylinder head, became an instant modern classic. The Max Wedge (Maximum Performance Wedge) was born.
From 1962 through 1964, the Max Wedge was the hot ticket. The 413ci big-block was increased to 426ci for NASCAR limits in 1963, and the manifold reworked for that configuration. The biggest appeal remained in the fact that the engine was a sleeper. The plain Jane looks hid the monster lurking within. A big Orange Monster. The Max Wedge produced 420 horsepower at 5,000 rpm.
The Max Wedge engines dominated the drag racing scene in the early/mid 1960s until the 426 race hemi was unleashed on Daytona in 1964 . When the Hemi scored a sweep in the first four spots of NASCAR’s superbowl, the public paid attention. So did NASCAR. They quickly changed the rules excluding non-production engines. Not ones to miss an opportunity, Chrysler created the street version of the 426 Hemi and put it into production. This sidelined the Max Wedge and relegated the engine into virtually obscurity.
Vintage racers have rediscovered the Max Wedge and putting the iconic engine into clone race cars. There is no better fit than a gasser clone to showcase the historic powerplant. We found this 1948 Plymouth Gasser at the recent Edelbrock car show in Torrance. Granted, it is not sporting the Maximum Performance cylinder heads or the crossram manifold with dual quads, but it is still a 413 Super Stock. Despite that, it was still a great way to celebrate the Orange Monster that was the Max Wedge.
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