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Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please

Posted By: JC Childress

Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/25/13 07:49 PM

So....I'm putting together a Max Wedge clone engine...sorta...lol

I love the look of the cross ram intake, but they are EXPENSIVE ! I really like the old Nascar single four intakes that were for the Max Wedges, but cant find one. The options I'm looking at are a used cross ram, an old Nascar intake if I can find one, the Indy cross ram, an old Edelbrock rat roaster...or any other advice ? Any leads to any of these ? Any input, as I would like to make some decent power. Its on a 493 Stroker with 286 casting Max Wedge heads. Thanks for any and all help.
Posted By: 383man

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/25/13 10:04 PM

Are you set on either the single carb Nascar Max Wedge intake or a 2 x 4 intake ? Or would you consider a single four carb intake ? Ron
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/25/13 10:09 PM

I guess I'm open to suggestions at least...........lol
Posted By: 383man

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/25/13 10:26 PM

I wanted to use the crossram also but cash was tight and I liked what I heard about the Indy dual plane. So I went with the Indy dual plane which I had opened to max Wedge ports. I use a basic 850 double pumper and the driveability is great. I dont know if I would loose power going to a crossram from this but it drives and runs so nice on this setup I dont know if I will ever go to the crossram. But the WOW facter when you lift the hood with the crossram is awesome. I am sure I could go faster going to a Dominator or the Indy box crossram but as I said it drives and runs so nice on this setup. Last month I drove the 90 mile round trip to the track. All I did is bleed the rear tires to 16 psi at the track and run 10.70's all afternoon. Then pump the tires back up to 30 psi and drive home. I am pretty sure the original crossram will cost me some power as it is 50 year old technology. So you may have to weigh it out as do you want the coolest look with the crossram or more power and better driveability with a single carb or Indy box style crossram ? For now I went with this setup for good driveability. Ron

Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/25/13 10:36 PM

That makes a lot of sense and its weighing heavy on my mind. I already have a set of the Max Wedge heads......
Posted By: 383man

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/25/13 10:49 PM

When opened to Max Wedge ports the Indy dual plane flows alot for a dual plane and since I drive my car on the street 99% of the time it works great as it has awesome low end and mid range and the top eng is very good for a dual plane. I love it for street driving. Would it be faster with a single plane intake ?? Dont know and I may try one some day but I am happy with how the dual plane works on it. Ron
Posted By: nss guy

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/26/13 12:51 AM

I have run 3 different crossrams over the years,
original 63 crossram, mopar performance crossram, and currently the A&A crossram. Not much difference in all 3, the A&A is the fastest and the mopar performance the slowest. The indy intake is really not a crossram, carbs are pretty much centered.
pictured are the mp and A&A intakes

Attached picture 7936413-intake1.JPG
Posted By: dOc …

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/26/13 06:07 PM

I have two intakes that have not been mentioned ...... BOTH have been welded-up to fit the MW port size....

A CH-4B ...and a Eddie 6 pack ...
Posted By: actionange

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/26/13 06:18 PM

Quote:

I have run 3 different crossrams over the years,
original 63 crossram, mopar performance crossram, and currently the A&A crossram. Not much difference in all 3, the A&A is the fastest and the mopar performance the slowest. The indy intake is really not a crossram, carbs are pretty much centered.
pictured are the mp and A&A intakes



But you can get a top with the carbs slightly offset.
The Indy intake is called a crossram but it really a folded down runner tunnel ram. It has more room under the hood/scoop used on most NSS cars.
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/26/13 06:22 PM

and I hear the Indy intake makes awesome power !......I would still LOVE an old Nascar Max Wedge intake just for nostalgia purposes...
Posted By: AndyF

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/26/13 11:39 PM

The Indy cross ram makes more power than a factory cross ram, but a good single 4bbl intake with a Dominator will drive right around it. The cross ram stuff is for looks or to fit into a certain class. Nothing wrong with that, just don't fool yourself into thinking that you're going to make a lot of power going that way.
Posted By: farmboy

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/26/13 11:49 PM

I used a stock crossram with bowl ported mw heads on a mild 499 inch engine, with rather unimpressive results. Changed to a single plane Indy manifold with a 1050 Holley, and it loved it. Picked up 3 or 4 tenths if I remember correctly.
Posted By: lewtot184

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/27/13 12:03 AM

what Ron has on his '63 is probably a nice bullet proof performer. something else to consider is the edelbrock ch28. they're not pricey and would probably make a nice street performance intake/carb combo. the down side is port window and the need to fab brackets. here's a pic of one i have set-up for an early b-body torqueflite.

Attached picture 7937510-100_0228.jpg
Posted By: dvw

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/27/13 12:28 AM

Quote:

The Indy cross ram makes more power than a factory cross ram, but a good single 4bbl intake with a Dominator will drive right around it. The cross ram stuff is for looks or to fit into a certain class. Nothing wrong with that, just don't fool yourself into thinking that you're going to make a lot of power going that way.



Although I've seen the dyno results it does seem odd that heavy cars (3300-3600) with the Indy Crossram often run very close to the dominator equipped cars?
Doug
Posted By: nss guy

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/27/13 02:01 AM

All depends on what you want, I prefer the factory crossram look. My combo's pretty mild: 499, little ez heads, 620 roller cam, 4.30 gear 3400lb car = 10.25 @ 130 thru the mufflers with air cleaners on. Yes, I drive it on the street,not so much lately but very streetable.

Attached picture 7937634-DSCN3528.JPG
Posted By: fast68plymouth

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/28/13 10:39 PM

one thing no one has mentioned is that there is no valley pan gasket type of thing for MW heads, so if you're going to use an intake that does not cover the valley(like the OE X ram does), then you'll have to either fab up some type of valley cover, or integrate it into whichever intake you decide to use.

the MP "337" intake is a single plane MW manifold with the valley cover made onto the bottom.

one other thing when using OE heads and the OE X Ram is that i believe pretty much only OE style valve covers will work, and depending on what rockers you use and how big the cam is(and how much the block and heads have been milled), its not all that easy to pull the valve covers for valve adjustments.
i know on a FAST motor with a .650 lift cam and HS rockers, there was a very small window of crank(cam) positioning that would allow you to snake(wrestle)the VC out from under the manifold.

with the Indy heads, this isnt really an issue, since the ports are raised and it moves the intake up away from the valve covers.
Posted By: lewtot184

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/29/13 01:29 AM

Quote:

one thing no one has mentioned is that there is no valley pan gasket type of thing for MW heads, so if you're going to use an intake that does not cover the valley(like the OE X ram does), then you'll have to either fab up some type of valley cover, or integrate it into whichever intake you decide to use.

the MP "337" intake is a single plane MW manifold with the valley cover made onto the bottom.

one other thing when using OE heads and the OE X Ram is that i believe pretty much only OE style valve covers will work, and depending on what rockers you use and how big the cam is(and how much the block and heads have been milled), its not all that easy to pull the valve covers for valve adjustments.
i know on a FAST motor with a .650 lift cam and HS rockers, there was a very small window of crank(cam) positioning that would allow you to snake(wrestle)the VC out from under the manifold.

with the Indy heads, this isnt really an issue, since the ports are raised and it moves the intake up away from the valve covers.

good point on the valley pan. i made this one, a lot of work.

Attached picture 7939838-100_0311.jpg
Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 11/29/13 02:33 AM

I used an old valley pan I had hanging on the wall and cut the intake parts off, I then put a 90 bend in what was left after cutting and then silcone on top of that, and set the intake on ! Never had a leak ! Worked okay for what I was doing !
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/02/13 02:50 PM

Lots of good info here. Thanks everyone
Posted By: B G Racing

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/02/13 05:56 PM

We have used the Indy plate with many manifold combos that have a full intake flange.Even with cut out areas on the heads.We just use a full flange style gasket and where it meats the Indy plate put a wide bead of black RTV silicone and let cure.Some intake have cast lugs and other protrusions on the bottom that may need to be clearence so that the intake doesn't interfear with the plate.
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/02/13 06:39 PM

Its a good possibility that I may have scored an original Max Wedge intake. I wonder how good / bad this thing will run ? 493ci with original Max Wedge heads and intake, 10 to 1 compression, small solid roller........I hope its decent
Posted By: Streetwize

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/03/13 10:51 PM

I run the Chapman Stage VI Max Wedge heads on my 517 low deck and the indy RB dual plane.

Like Mr Bob said I just used the indy valley pan (had to relieve it just a bit through the middle for 440-2d cross-over clearance)and a couple beads of "right stuff" RTV and let it set up, seals like a charm

Attached picture 7945783-DSC00016-Copy.JPG
Posted By: keith airgrabber

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 06:25 AM

Quote:

Its a good possibility that I may have scored an original Max Wedge intake. I wonder how good / bad this thing will run ? 493ci with original Max Wedge heads and intake, 10 to 1 compression, small solid roller........I hope its decent

I'm building almost the same motor. I am picking up my 440 now a 505 from the the engine shop tomorrow.All the balancing and machinong is done. And now I can put it together. I am also running 286 heads and an original 63 crossram. And cast iron headers. And a 4-speed.I hope it will be fun to hammer on the throttle. I have seen the old nascar intakes for sale. They are pretty pricey. But rare and worth it. I hope to pick one up some time and maybe switch to the single four.

Attached picture 7947561-DSCN4389.JPG
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 04:18 PM

What kinda compression will you run and whatcha gonna do on the camshaft ? Sounds really neat.
Posted By: Streetwize

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 07:16 PM

The 440-2D is allegedly based on the NASCAR Wax wedge, at least one iteration of it.

Here's a pic of an original with the Divider removed

Attached picture 7948039-th[1].jpg
Posted By: Streetwize

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 07:18 PM

Here's the Indy....which Really responds to porting, particularly the lower plenum ( the upper is pretty darn good with just port matching)

The internal sizing I'll bet is very consistent with the old NASCAR but the runners are more modern shorter and with no acute angles....In many ways very similar to a scaled-up/oversized Performer RPM.

Attached picture 7948042-indy440-2.jpg
Posted By: 383man

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 08:25 PM

I am very pleased with the Indy dual plane intake as I use it on my 63. The only think you have to do is cut the bottom part of the crossover runner off as it hits the valley plate that I use with the EZ heads. I just took my wizzer and cut this bottom part off. Piece of cake that take 5 to 10 minutes. Not like I have to worry about it as the EZ heads have no crossover in them anyway. I like how well it works on my street/strip car. Ron

Posted By: 383man

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 08:30 PM

Here is how the Indy dual plane 440 2-D fits after I cut the crossover base off. Ron

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 09:02 PM

Quote:



I'm building almost the same motor. I am picking up my 440 now a 505 from the the engine shop tomorrow.All the balancing and machinong is done. And now I can put it together. I am also running 286 heads and an original 63 crossram. And cast iron headers. And a 4-speed.I hope it will be fun to hammer on the throttle.

If you have a good set of rear tires that will hook up the power you make that combination should put a big old grin on your face If you don't have enough tires and traction you may end up mildy suprised on what happens at wide open throttle, be prepared to have to drive the car sideways once the tires start to spin, in any gear
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/05/13 09:36 PM

I will dyno mine here at work so I will be able to give some numbers. We ran a 508 ci big block Mopar yesterday. Good street engine.
Posted By: JC Childress

Re: Max Wedge Intake Options.....opinions please - 12/06/13 06:33 PM

I wonder how the Nascar intake compares to the cross ram ?
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