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Hemi vs Wedge
#1262518
07/06/12 02:24 AM
07/06/12 02:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,607
Western Washington
Sixgun
OP
top fuel
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,607
Western Washington
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Very briefly, as you are all busy people. Yes this is "race only", but who better to ask? I am a big Wedge guy.Always have been.440/906s,446/max wedge heads, 500 siamese w/bulldog track dawgs (yeah,I know, 452/906s 6bbl they run hard, they run good, easy to maintain and work on.Stay in tune well.(basic street/strip cars, not full race) I always have thought if and when I ever get to a Hemi, with a stock 426 style head,even based on that alone, I would think with all the air a Hemi head can flow ,anything less than 500 cubes would not be worth the switch from a wedge.That and alloy heads to make up for some of the weight penalty.Don't want to tie up your forum, but how about a few pointers, so I can try to be right in my mind on this? Thanks, Bear 
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: Sixgun]
#1262520
07/06/12 09:18 AM
07/06/12 09:18 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,650
Harm City Md.
Dan Halen
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,650
Harm City Md.
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Keep in mind Hemis LOVE compression and RPM. The cost between a 426 and a 500+ is minimal, you need lots of air movement to make those heads perform. 
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: Dan Halen]
#1262521
07/06/12 10:03 AM
07/06/12 10:03 AM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,386
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,386
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
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I am a Hemi guy, and the wedge is easier to maintain for racing. Now a days, the wedge heads flow pretty good. We have a set that flow a little over 360cfm and we are running 10.0's on pump gas with a wedge. Yeah the Hemi heads flow, but stock heads need work. The valve guides are over size, and the seats can be an issue as well. You will be better off with a set of Stage V heads and go from there.
With a Hemi, oiling is critical. If your going to build one, run the oiling on the stand and get it sorted out before it goes in the car.
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: Mr.Yuck]
#1262524
07/06/12 11:27 AM
07/06/12 11:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,645
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,645
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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A wedge will work but a hemi is prettier. Hemi's used to be expensive so I understand why people drove wedges but today if you are building from new parts the cost is the same nearly to the penny. (If you want to go thru the price list item by item we will.) I will never figure out why someone would drive a wedge.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: rickseeman]
#1262525
07/06/12 11:39 AM
07/06/12 11:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck
Not enough dumb comments...yet
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Not enough dumb comments...yet
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
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Quote:
A wedge will work but a hemi is prettier. Hemi's used to be expensive so I understand why people drove wedges but today if you are building from new parts the cost is the same nearly to the penny. (If you want to go thru the price list item by item we will.) I will never figure out why someone would drive a wedge.
really? crank, rods, pistons, cam maybe but blocks, heads and valve train? no way. Hemi headers and intake are also more expensive. You'll spend 2x as much (maybe more) building a 600hp hemi vs wedge.
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: 340B5]
#1262527
07/06/12 01:13 PM
07/06/12 01:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,607
Western Washington
Sixgun
OP
top fuel
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,607
Western Washington
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Cab,Mr Yuck,340B5,Mr Seeman,HPMike,Dragula,StreetVanDan, thank you all,I am not being a pot stirrer, but this is EXACTLY what I was asking for. I am a little clearer on the whole thing,as it would apply to ME, here and now. I sure do appreciate first hand information/opinion. Great day to you all,and whoever else has anything to add later. Bear 
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: Sixgun]
#1262528
07/06/12 02:32 PM
07/06/12 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,916
A shed in England
Tig
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,916
A shed in England
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We moved up from a small block to a big block wedge for cost reasons many years ago. Back then Hemi's were way more expensive, nowadays I'd guess it's a lot closer but the Hemi's are still more expensive. 
'74 Challenger..9.46 @ 145.9 1/4, 6.001 @ 118 1/8 so far. 4023lb !!! # N/A, Marsh performance 655ci, Indy Maxx, T/R, Indy 600-13 X's, Street legal, pump gas, full interior, Cal-Tracs, mufflers, 3:73's and real 10.5 radials.
9.51 @ 142.4 1/4, 6.003 @ 114 1/8 with our old mule KB, 572-13, 580 wedge.
RHD '68 Barracuda Fastback 323ci street/strip. Best ET 13.88 @ 99.03
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: Tig]
#1262529
07/06/12 06:47 PM
07/06/12 06:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976
Chilliwack B.C. Canada
RUNCHARGER
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976
Chilliwack B.C. Canada
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Stock castings the 426 has almost unlimited horsepower, the wedge not so much, the heads just do not flow anywhere near what the Hemi's do. Wedge block is good for what, 600HP before it breaks, 426 Hemi at least double that.
So you want your wedge to make big power so you need an aftermarket block, heads, rocker gear etc. Same cost as Hemi aftermarket parts.
They're both great engines but different.
Most people have never driven a Hemi, a stock 440 car still pulls okay when you punch it in high gear, a stock 426 Hemi pulls like gangbusters in high gear and feels like that wedge does in low gear. 440 is a great torque engine, the 426 Hemi is a great horsepower engine.
Sheldon
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: cudacustoms1]
#1262534
07/07/12 09:30 AM
07/07/12 09:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,916
A shed in England
Tig
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,916
A shed in England
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Pro: That Hemi top end charge  Con: The combo to make it possible  If I were to start over again? 
'74 Challenger..9.46 @ 145.9 1/4, 6.001 @ 118 1/8 so far. 4023lb !!! # N/A, Marsh performance 655ci, Indy Maxx, T/R, Indy 600-13 X's, Street legal, pump gas, full interior, Cal-Tracs, mufflers, 3:73's and real 10.5 radials.
9.51 @ 142.4 1/4, 6.003 @ 114 1/8 with our old mule KB, 572-13, 580 wedge.
RHD '68 Barracuda Fastback 323ci street/strip. Best ET 13.88 @ 99.03
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: HPMike]
#1262536
07/07/12 10:00 AM
07/07/12 10:00 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,068
Mo.
racerx
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,068
Mo.
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Quote:
This debate will rage on forever...
They both make good power. All Ill say is this, and I drive and build a lot of brandX stuff, too. All things being equal(like dont compare a full boogie B-1 with a stock street hemi), nothing feels like a hemi up top. It turns on when the others are turning off. Period...
MB
Hmm.r we talking about top end charge in the 1/4 mi or highway  
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Re: Hemi vs Wedge
[Re: RUNCHARGER]
#1262537
07/07/12 10:12 AM
07/07/12 10:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck
Not enough dumb comments...yet
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Not enough dumb comments...yet
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
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Quote:
Stock castings the 426 has almost unlimited horsepower, the wedge not so much, the heads just do not flow anywhere near what the Hemi's do. Wedge block is good for what, 600HP before it breaks, 426 Hemi at least double that.
So you want your wedge to make big power so you need an aftermarket block, heads, rocker gear etc. Same cost as Hemi aftermarket parts.
They're both great engines but different.
Most people have never driven a Hemi, a stock 440 car still pulls okay when you punch it in high gear, a stock 426 Hemi pulls like gangbusters in high gear and feels like that wedge does in low gear. 440 is a great torque engine, the 426 Hemi is a great horsepower engine.
Sheldon
plenty of 600+ wedges out there. Not sure why 600 hp or 6500 are peoples #'s for a wedge. I guess it all depends on the budget. You can make cheaper, more dependable 10 second wedge that a Hemi. If you want more "top end" w/ a wedge all you need to do is add a little boost. FWIW my 440-6 is still pulling hard at the stripe, it's no where close to "done"
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