Posted By: Dougsmopars
64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 08:43 PM
Were 64 and 65 426 max wedge the 4 or 6 bolt covers?
64 65 Max wedge valve covers.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 08:47 PM
6 bolts in '64. No Maxies made in '65 (at least not on the production line and in cars).
Posted By: John_Kunkel
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 08:48 PM
No Max Wedges in '65 but the '64 had 6-bolt valve covers as did all BB's after mid '63.
Posted By: Dougsmopars
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 08:51 PM
I didn't think there were 65 Max motors. I saw a set of covers advertised and saw they were 6 bolt. I thought all the Max wedges were four bolt. Learned something new today.
Posted By: Dougsmopars
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 08:59 PM
Did any Maxies come with chrome valve covers? Were they offered as a dealer installed option?
Posted By: 383man
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 09:26 PM
Quote:
Did any Maxies come with chrome valve covers? Were they offered as a dealer installed option?
Not to my knowledge but I think the dealers may have installed some. Ron
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/26/11 10:26 PM
A 65 426 Wedge with chrome valve covers? Sounds like someone is confusing (or trying to pass off) a Street Wedge with a Max Wedge. 1964 &65 426 Street Wedges came with chome valve covers and chrome air cleaners, they were all painted Turquoise (Max Wedges were all painted Orange). The blocks would be stamped either V42 HP (64) or A42 HP (65) on the machined raised pad opposite the distributor.
Posted By: NicksGarage
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/28/11 04:25 AM
Quote:Quote:
Did any Maxies come with chrome valve covers? Were they offered as a dealer installed option?
Not to my knowledge but I think the dealers may have installed some. Ron
I got these chrome 4-bolt valve covers with some max wedge parts about 25 years ago. They have the same look as my '68 383-S valve covers.
Posted By: Cab_Burge
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/28/11 04:59 AM
I had( I was the 3rd owner, bought it in 1971 from the second owner) a 415 HP 1963 Max Wedge Belvedere two door sedan, the M.W. valve covers baffles where higher inside than the non M.W. covers as well as mine had the corners like the six bolt valve covers did but they weren't drilled or punch out and had no wire retainers welded onto them on either side 
I've seen some marine valve covers just like them also at the Spring Fling car and swap meet show in San Fernando valley, CA. The guy did not know that they where the same as the M.W. covers, he had taken them off of a 413 Marine motor out of a boat that ended up with a Detroit deisel conversion in it 
I've seen a lot of original 1962,63 and 64 M.W. cars, motors and parts, none of them had chrome valve covers eitherI tried buying a new 1964 Dodge 415 HP 330 sedan in the spring(february andmarch) of 1964, the last M.W. cars where made around April of 1964 according to the information I could find at that time, my order was placed to late to get one back then 
6 weeks lead time from order to manufacturing back then in the days of no computers like today 
I've seen some marine valve covers just like them also at the Spring Fling car and swap meet show in San Fernando valley, CA. The guy did not know that they where the same as the M.W. covers, he had taken them off of a 413 Marine motor out of a boat that ended up with a Detroit deisel conversion in it I've seen a lot of original 1962,63 and 64 M.W. cars, motors and parts, none of them had chrome valve covers eitherI tried buying a new 1964 Dodge 415 HP 330 sedan in the spring(february andmarch) of 1964, the last M.W. cars where made around April of 1964 according to the information I could find at that time, my order was placed to late to get one back then 6 weeks lead time from order to manufacturing back then in the days of no computers like today
Posted By: NicksGarage
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 12:10 AM
Was there a 413 "Wedge" package in 1962 or 1963 like the '64-66 426 Wedge? Couldn't you get a 413 4bbl engine in a b-body in 1963? Of course these are probably just accessory valve covers from back then, I know they had them available in the later '60s.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 02:36 AM
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:14 AM
Mock up, prototype, and promotional photos are cool but not good for reference material concerning production line correct details. Max Wedge engines did not come with chrome valve covers.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:17 AM
Quote:
Was there a 413 "Wedge" package in 1962 or 1963 like the '64-66 426 Wedge? Couldn't you get a 413 4bbl engine in a b-body in 1963? Of course these are probably just accessory valve covers from back then, I know they had them available in the later '60s.
Not as a specific option package like the 426-S engines with the dress up chrome additions, etc. As far as over the counter chrome parts? I don't know but I've never heard of any being offered pre 1966.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:31 AM
Quote:
the non M.W. covers as well as mine had the corners like the six bolt valve covers did but they weren't drilled or punch out and had no wire retainers welded onto them on either side I've seen some marine valve covers just like them also at the Spring Fling car and swap meet show in San Fernando valley, CA. The guy did not know that they where the same as the M.W. covers, he had taken them off of a 413 Marine motor out of a boat that ended up with a Detroit deisel conversion in it
The 1963 300J engines also came with the style valve covers you mentioned, corners had the flat areas for the extra bolts but they were not stamped out. Being a transitional year (63-64 from 4-6 bolts) I'm guessing they were used on any engine with factory adjustable rocker gear that year (Max Wedge, Short Ram, and Marine engines) and were later used with the extra holes added during 64 and later production. The valve covers in my pic were original 63 300J covers painted turquoise, someone painted them orange and was using them on a Max Wedge clone.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:32 AM
The corner unpunched hole
Posted By: Sinitro
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:47 AM
Quote:
Did any Maxies come with chrome valve covers? Were they offered as a dealer installed option?
Chrome valve covers (6 holes) were available on the 67 GTX 440...
Just my $0.02..
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:51 AM
Quote:
Chrome valve covers (6 holes) were available on the 67 GTX 440...
Just my $0.02..
No, they were standard on them, other post 66 cars had them standard as well (R/T's, big block A-bodys, etc.)
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:19 AM
Quote:
Mock up, prototype, and promotional photos are cool but not good for reference material concerning production line correct details. Max Wedge engines did not come with chrome valve covers.
They didn't have chrome air cleaners and weren't painted orange and blue, either, but they sure were pretty that way.
Seriously, as far as I know, the 1964-5 426 street wedges were the first Chrysler Corp Cars to be factory equipped with chrome valve covers. Weren't too many others; only ones I can think of right off hand were the 67 B-body 440's and all big-block A bodies.
Posted By: NicksGarage
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:37 AM
Interesting stuff. I put them back on the shelf. I have another set that I got at the same time but they are somewhere else. I think they have a bunch of holes drilled in the top of them above the baffles. I'll have to dig them out some time. The only other parts I have left from that stuff are a set of connecting rods with pins that have aluminum buttons for the ends.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:40 AM
Of course, there's always this, too:
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 05:10 AM
That's a modified race engine, air cleaners, valve covers, 13:1 compression, fender well headers? etc. Not stock/original.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 05:22 AM
Quote:
That's a modified race engine, air cleaners, valve covers, 13:1 compression, fender well headers? etc. Not stock/original.
Actually, it's the Ramchargers' Super Stock 61 Dodge.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 05:26 AM
Quote:
Actually, it's the Ramchargers' Super Stock 61 Dodge.
By the caption on the photo that's pretty obvious right?
Why did you post it as "Then there's this"? Were you thinking finding a vintage picture was some kind of evidence towards showing chrome valve covers on a factory engine or did you just think the picture was cool (which it is of course).
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 06:02 AM
Well, obviously at least one member of the Ramchargers liked chrome valve covers. . . . 
Posted By: 383man
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 07:23 AM
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:09 PM
Quote:
Of course, there's always this, too:
I dunno, that cowl grille, firewall and engine compartment looks like a 62/63 to me!? But, like Scott said, it's modified...but cool!
Posted By: NicksGarage
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:33 PM
Quote:
Of course, there's always this, too:
What year is that from?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 03:45 PM
Quote:Quote:
Of course, there's always this, too:
I dunno, that cowl grille, firewall and engine compartment looks like a 62/63 to me!? But, like Scott said, it's modified...but cool!
You know, you're right. The 61 firewall would have a fiberglass heater box on the firewall (among other differences). The picture comes from the Chrysler Performance magazine shown above that I bought new in the summer/fall of 1962, and is right next to a picture of the Ramcharger 61 Dodge beating a 409 Chevy at Indy, but I never noticed before that it's not a 61 engine compartment. Looks like the inner fenders have been cut for clearance and the rest painted black. Maybe it's a test mule for the 62 max wedge package during development???
Here's a 61 Dodge engine compartment (this one's a short-ram 383):
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:20 PM
That one has been "breathed on" as well, notice the cooling fins on the coil?
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:27 PM
Quote:
That one has been "breathed on" as well, notice the cooling fins on the coil?
You can tell that because someone changed the COIL ???? or are you ASSuMEing it ?
Posted By: mopar rookie
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:43 PM
What valve covers do I need for a Max Wedge clone using 440 heads. The valve covers I have have wire looms welded on them. Does anyone have what I would need?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:46 PM
The finned coil is part of the transistorized ignition setup. That photo is from an article in the October 1961 issue of Hot Rod Magazine, titled "Dodge's Hot Options," meaning basically parts not installed on the assembly line, but approved as NHRA legal stock and available from the dealer's parts department.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 04:51 PM
Quote:Quote:Quote:
Of course, there's always this, too:
I dunno, that cowl grille, firewall and engine compartment looks like a 62/63 to me!? But, like Scott said, it's modified...but cool!
You know, you're right. The 61 firewall would have a fiberglass heater box on the firewall (among other differences). The picture comes from the Chrysler Performance magazine shown above that I bought new in the summer/fall of 1962, and is right next to a picture of the Ramcharger 61 Dodge beating a 409 Chevy at Indy, but I never noticed before that it's not a 61 engine compartment. Looks like the inner fenders have been cut for clearance and the rest painted black. Maybe it's a test mule for the 62 max wedge package during development???
The other thing I noticed was it was a heater delete car!
It HAS to be a '62 or '63 Dodge/Plymouth B-body because the cowl grille is rounded vs. the flat style that the went to in '64.
Posted By: Sinitro
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 09:30 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Chrome valve covers (6 holes) were available on the 67 GTX 440...
Just my $0.02..
No, they were standard on them, other post 66 cars had them standard as well (R/T's, big block A-bodys, etc.)
Partially correct..
Some were also painted on the mentioned models..
Just my $0.02...
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 09:43 PM
Quote:
Partially correct..
Some were also painted on the mentioned models..
Just my $0.02...
Exactly which ones are you refering to? If you mean A-bodies, yes, it varied on those, but they were a standard as opposed to an optional item.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 10:04 PM
Quote:
What valve covers do I need for a Max Wedge clone using 440 heads. The valve covers I have have wire looms welded on them. Does anyone have what I would need?
You need 6 bolt covers just remove the wire looms you do not need with a dremel .
Posted By: 62maxwgn
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 10:29 PM
Quote:Quote:
What valve covers do I need for a Max Wedge clone using 440 heads. The valve covers I have have wire looms welded on them. Does anyone have what I would need?
You need 6 bolt covers just remove the wire looms you do not need with a dremel .
And you'll probably have to do this depending on what rocker arms you use.
Posted By: max
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/30/11 11:30 PM
Quote:
They didn't have chrome air cleaners and weren't painted orange and blue, either, but they sure were pretty that way.
I actually had a set of chrome air cleaners a few years back that were from a late family friends 63 MW car. But I believe he traded the factory black ones in on them at the dealership when he bought the car.
Over the years I have read the chrome air cleaners were available in 1962 only for the MW cars.
Posted By: cudaboy
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/31/11 12:23 AM
Posted By: Dougsmopars
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/31/11 01:28 AM
I saw this set advertised as 64 65 max wedge. I didn't think there were 64 maxies since the hemi was out. Was curious if maxies ever had chrome covers.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/31/11 01:30 AM
Quote:
You can tell that because someone changed the COIL ???? or are you ASSuMEing it ?
One changed part's as good as 10 changed parts John, bottom line, it's not a 100% correct production line engine photo so NOTHING on it can be ASSuMEed as being correct anymore, who knows what else has been changed?
As far as over the counter parts go, who knows, 1960-1966 is one of the worse documented eras of Mopar history when it comes to over the counter speed equippment. However, as far as what options actually came on them from the production line there is no current evidence proving that any pre 1965 engine had chrome valve covers or air cleaners aside from 64/65 Hemi's and 64/65 426 Street Wedges. If anyone has any solid evidence of exceptions I'd be interested in seeing it.
Posted By: Sinitro
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/31/11 03:57 AM
Quote:Quote:Quote:
What valve covers do I need for a Max Wedge clone using 440 heads. The valve covers I have have wire looms welded on them. Does anyone have what I would need?
You need 6 bolt covers just remove the wire looms you do not need with a dremel .
And you'll probably have to do this depending on what rocker arms you use.
Correcto...
If one used the OE stamped rockers then one had enough clearance for the baffles, but if one used the Isky ductile iron adjustable rockers the baffles needed some surgery..
Just my $0.02...
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 64 65 Max wedge valve covers. - 03/31/11 04:10 AM
Quote:
Quote:
You can tell that because someone changed the COIL ???? or are you ASSuMEing it ?
One changed part's as good as 10 changed parts John, bottom line, it's not a 100% correct production line engine photo so NOTHING on it can be ASSuMEed as being correct anymore, who knows what else has been changed?
As far as over the counter parts go, who knows, 1960-1966 is one of the worse documented eras of Mopar history when it comes to over the counter speed equippment. However, as far as what options actually came on them from the production line there is no current evidence proving that any pre 1965 engine had chrome valve covers or air cleaners aside from 64/65 Hemi's and 64/65 426 Street Wedges. If anyone has any solid evidence of exceptions I'd be interested in seeing it.
Well, I've enjoyed messing with you, but
