 Chrysler oval track and drag racers met with considerable success due to engines like this 1963 426 Max Wedge, shown here in drag race trim. |
While 1959 saw the release of the 413 RB engine in Chrysler products, the first engine of distinction has to be the radical long-ram 383 of 1960. This engine sported a very exotic aluminum cross-ram setup that placed each of its two carburetors out over the valve covers of the engine. The driver-side carb fed the passenger side cylinder bank, and vice versa. This was the first, and perhaps most outrageous, example of intake runner “tuning” on a production engine. (It should be noted that almost every modern port fuel injected engine built today exhibits similar, if less lengthy, intake manifold port tuning.) This 383 produced 330 horsepower, with a “short ram” version that made 340 horsepower. In 1961, the 413 got the long ram intake setup and two 4-bbls which resulted in 375 horsepower. While these engines were definitely high-performance engines, things were about to get very interesting.
The renowned 413 Max Wedge Super Stock engine became available in 1962. The engine made use of a more conventional cross ram intake where the carburetors, twin 650-cfm Holleys, were inboard of the valve covers, greatly simplifying service on the engine. And due to the frequent lash adjustments required with the mechanical camshaft (.520” int/exh lift, 300° int/exh duration), service was certainly a high priority. The engine could be had with two compression ratios, 11:1 and 13.5:1, the former being streetable while the latter was strictly for competition use. The forged-steel crankshaft and forged rods were magnafluxed by the factory before use to ensure no cracks would compromise engine reliability. The cylinder heads featured as much as 25% additional flow over the prior 413s, and valve sizes were set at 2.08” intake and 1.88” exhaust. Additional work was done on the cast-iron exhaust manifolds as well. A very free-flowing arrangement was devised that swept up and rearward (up to clear the chassis) and dumped into 3” head pipes with cutouts for racing. With the exhaust opened up and tuned for competition, the 13.5:1 413 Max Wedge was reportedly making around 450 horsepower. (Next) |
