To be fair, calling our stump-pulling torque-monster of a 535 cubic inch 440 Wedge a “junkyard build” would be partially, if not completely, an outright lie. Although we did fish our low mileage, HP-casting 440 block out of a dilapidated motorhome some years back, that is the only component of our Project Brazen’s engine build that could be construed as “junkyard.” (Albeit, we do like the sound of a monster torque-making junkyard Chrysler RB 440.)

Rather, the engine we had in mind would require some of the best aftermarket parts that the automotive industry could supply. In the first installment of our “Wicked Wedge of The South” we outlined that the spinal cord of our powerplant was an Eagle Specialty Products’ 426 crank and rods assembly package, more specifically, a 4340 forged 4.500-inch 8-bolt flange, internally-balanced Hemi crank and 7.100-inch H-beam rods. On its own, the complete setup is capable of producing upwards of 1,500HP, which we knew would be plenty for our needs.

Read the rest of the article at Directly Connected Magazine HERE!

I like the Wicked Wedge article.
Would it be possible to get a parts and price
list for this motor?
I have a few parts already: heads,intake,block,headers,roller rockers.
Thanks,
Dave

Dave,

I'm very glad you enjoyed the article. Here's the parts list in its entirety:

Comp retainers (pt 1795-16)
Comp valve springs (pt 26120-16)
Comp timing chain (pt 7125)
Comp roller rockers (pt 1621-16)
Comp push rods (pt 7977-16)
Comp roller camshaft (I'll get you the cam card ASAP)

Eagle connecting rods 7.100" (pt CRS7100C3D)
Eagle 4.5" crankshaft (pt 444245007100)

Milodon deep pump pan
Milodon external pickup
Milodon billet oil pump

Mallory dist. (pt 8457815)
Accell ceramic wires (pt 9001C)

Holley mech. fuel pump (pt 12-440-11)
Holley Ultra HP 850cfm mech. double pumper

Edelbrock RPM Performer heads (pt 60185)
Edelbrock RP Dual Plane intake (pt 7193)
Edelbrock head bolts (pt 8591)

Summit Racing headers 3" collectors

TCI Rattler balancer (pt 87009)

Mopar alum. water pump

As for prices, with the part numbers, if you're willing to do a little frugal shopping, you'll be able to whittle off of the standard retail prices I could supply you.

We were very blessed to have many of the manufacturers supply us with parts, so it would be disingenuous to claim that we paid retail on much of the build.

On another note, we're also preparing to radically improve our Wicked Wedge's top end performance. Clearly running a dual plane and "box stock" heads is choking our engine significantly.

Over the summer, expect to see some gradual improvements and we inch closer to a fully ported, polished and flowed top end. We're also really, really interested in a fuel injection swap, but more on that later.

Dave, I feel compelled to mention a few other items: we're still working on chasing all of the bugs in our 535ci and recommend a couple changes:

- Even with a dual plane, our flat hood is too low to fit a decent air cleaner. Even with a 1.5" drop plate and low height air filter element, we're just too dang tall. We're left having to install a hood scoop, and thereby swapping to a single plane manifold. Look for the story in a month or so.
- Add a Holley fuel pressure gauge to your fuel log.
- Between the Holley fuel pump and fuel log, add a fuel pressure regulator. Our mechanical pump is overriding our carb's needles and flooding our front bowl.
- We just had our Mallory Hyfire 6AL2 die on us. We're still verifying that it's NOT the box, but all signs point to the box going bad.

Thanks for the info.
I have a set of Edelbrock RPM heads that were CNC ported
and have bigger valves and springs in them. I have a Victor
single plain intake that was port matched to the heads and
has been blended inside.
Also have a set of 1.5 Harland Sharp roller rockers, and
2" ceramic coated under chassis headers.
I plan on running an electric water pump and an electric
fuel pump.
All this going into my 71 Demon that has an AlterKtion front
end and Caltrac mono-leafs and sliders out back.
Should weigh around 2800lbs. when done.

Well, all of that combined with the bottom end package we assembled will definitely gain you some serious power!