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Stock heads would hold the wedge back for sure. We have very good aftermarket and MP wedge heads but you cant consider it stock anymore once you put Indy's or Eddy heads on a 440. You have to add a good head to the wedge to try and stay even close to the Hemi. Ron

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Great points, Ron!! But...there IS enough
factory and aftermarket performance goodies for the wedge to "do battle" with the HEMI. Biggest problem is not the power, nor the breathing capabilities as much as everyone believes. It's the engine reliability and hi-rpm potential. The wedge is bit behind in both areas. The HEMI heads are simply "free-breathers" at higher rpms, netting MORE hp than the wedge. Not to say the wedge cannot attain high levels of hp, they simply do it at a lower rpm level than the HEMI. That's why I believe the wedges NEED the added preventative measures and parts (precise lower end clearances, billet/steel main bearing caps, main bearing/block girdles, cross-bolted
main cap engine blocks), to complete with the HEMI
and it's reliability/power output. Again, simply put (and without insult to ANYONE), wedges (max or
not) RULE the 8.90's (oops SS wedges are near 8.60-8.50 now?)and slower brackets and classes, while the HEMIS dominate everything else. Except the STREETS, where the CROWN can go to either motor, if it's fair. But..who knows what IS fair!!