Max Wedge valve adjustment

I just read an online Car Craft article about the build of a "Max Wedge" engine, using the A&A standard port crossram and repro MW exhaust manifolds. In the article, the authors says he used a hydraulic cam because with the MW exhaust manifolds, you can't take the passenger side valve cover off with the engine in the car. Is this the case?? It surprised me, especially since the MW engines were all fitted with solid cams and adjustable rockers.

The reason I ask is becuase I am planning on building a Max Wedge type motor to go in my 63 Dodge, using the repro cross ram and exhaust manifolds. I was planning on using either solid flat tappets or rollers. But if I can't get the valve covers off to adjust the rockers without removing the exhaust manifolds, I might have to re-think my plan. Anyone with practical experience with these engines with the exhaust manifolds?

In my 62 Plymouth I have to take the passg side exhaust manifold off to adjust the valves. From what I gather this is standard procedure.

If your not going for originality,headers definitely would be the way to go.

FWIW,
Alex

It depends on which valve covers you use, I had a original 415 HP 1963 M.W. Belvedere that was stock when I bought it. The stock valve covers where hard to get off at first until I learned to slide them around while lifting them up. It did help if I loosened the exhaust mainifold boltts some on the right side but you could get them off without doing that. BTW, that motor had allen head 1/4 inch bolts on the inside (manifold side) valve cover locations, lots of fun to get in and out until I made a extended allen head socket by welding a extension onto one of my allen head sockets Hopefully your going to use the M.W. size heads and intake and not the standard intake port sizes

exhaust manifold on passenger side has to come off, the best part is the antifreeze leaking out of the water jacket bolt hole when you slide the manifold off.

Quote:

---

Hopefully your going to use the M.W. size heads and intake and not the standard intake port sizes

---

Yes, I have a set of 518M heads and the MW size intake. I also have a set of 64 6-bolt valve covers. I am trying to keep the engine looking stock and original, so looks like I'll be loosening the exhaust manifold.

The plan at this stage is to put the MW top end on a 511 cube 11.0 to 1 comp short motor. I want to try and get around 530hp out of it, but keep the whole car looking stock, sort of like the FAST cars. It will see some street time, but I don't mind mixing race and pump gas. I was thinking of either using a custom street solid roller cam or a solid flat tappet cam. But I don't think the motor will see much past 6000rpm with the intake and exhaust manifolds, so maybe a solid flat tappet will suffice? Would it be easier on the valvetrain, especially with street miles and top end oiling?