1969,,A/SA,,63' Max Wedge vs. Street Hemi

[Paul Ceasrine]

In 1969, the NHRA instituted a 5-year rule for Super/Stockers,
forcing the 63' Max-Wedge cars back into Stock Class.

The NHRA also dropped the A/Stock class lower, (7.50 - 7.99 wt/hp).
This allowed some of the 426 Street-hemi's to get back into A/Stock.



In competition, the 63' 426/425HP Max-Wedge cars were, in most cases, able to out-run the Street-Hemi's, primarily in A/SA.

1969 NHRA Stock Classes.

[Paul Ceasrine]

1969,,,,,,A/SA

1963 Plymouth Belvedere (Aluminum Nose)
w/ Ram-Air Hood Scoop
#3213 lbs.
426/425HP Stage II
7.56 weight-to-horsepower

versus

1968 Hemi Road Runner (Hardtop)
w/ Air Grabber Air Induction Package
#3595 lbs.
426/425 Street-Hemi (NHRA HP Re-factored to 475HP)
7.55 weight-to-horsepower

[Chris Barnes]

I find it interesting that the NHRA has never refactored the 415/425 hp ratings on the 63-64 Max Wedges in almost fifty years. I know they recently lowered the 62s. I'd love to run my big wagon in D/SA...

http://classracer.com/classforum/att...1&d=1318700576

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

[Paul Ceasrine]

On a little engine comparison.

1963 426/425HP Max-Wedge
13.5 to 1 Pistons
Cross-Ram Intake
#3447 Carter 625 AFB's
.509/.509 Solid-lift camshaft
Stage II Heads

vs.

1968 426/425HP Street-Hemi
10.25 to 1 Pistons
In-Line Intake
#4430 Carter 625 AVS's
.477/.480 Solid-lift camshaft
Cast-iron Heads

[Paul Ceasrine]

May 1969,,,,,,,,Dover Drag Strip, Wingdale, New York

Northeast Raider,,,,,,,,A/SA
1963 Plymouth Belvedere
426/425HP Stage II Max-Wedge (Aluminum-nose with Ram-Air)
11.90's @ 118 MPH.

versus

1968 Dodge Coronet R/T,,,,,A/SA
426/425 HP Street-Hemi
12.40's @ 115 MPH

May 1969

[Hemi Moose]

I wonder how many street hemi's got killed by the max-wedges or better yet how many street hemi's won against any max-wedge cars? Does anyone have anymore info or photos on this.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Moose,

Back in 1969, most of the guys who had 68' or 69' Street Hemi's
were relunctant to race them,,,,,,,
More value in keeping them 'stock or in near stock condition'.

Those who did race them,,,while still on the street,,,,,
never really went full out with 'race preperation'.....
Most just threw on a set of Hooker Headers, maybe 4.10 or 4.56 gears and a pair of 7" slicks.
And were happy to run 12.60's.

In 1969, most, if not all of the top A/SA cars were 63' or 64' Max-Wedge cars.

If you had a good running 'Hemi', you were running in Super/Stock.

pc

[DeuceCoupe]

An old thread I know and not all of us are here any more.
Paul's threads had SO much good info.


I'm (still) compiling old NHRA history and the idea that the MaxWedge was never refactored struck me.


WHERE DID THEY GO????


In all the old records and results sheets, the 63-64 MaxWedge just seems to VANISH after mid-1964 when the Hemi came out. Unfactored, the MaxWedge would've landed in the new AA/S=7.00 class with the 64 Ford LWG 427 HiRiser. Instead, the MaxWedge just vanishes.


It makes me think that NHRA either banned aluminum, or factored the MaxWedge at say 480hp back up into S/S against the Hemi, or something. What happened there????


Paul covered the re-start of the history in 1969 but why doesn't the MaxWedge show up in AA/S=7.00 or A/S=7.00 from late 1964 to early 1967?

[Steve Stasko]

They didn't vanish. If you're looking at records and results...remember, the Hemi and the lightweight Max Wedge's were both 426/425 hp...So they fell into the same class. A well tuned Hemi car should have been king over the MW cars in the same class anytime they ran.

Aluminum was banned for 1965 and later...but only on "new" production cars. 1964 and earlier cars are/were still legal with the aluminum body panels.

[DeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by Steve Stasko

They didn't vanish. If you're looking at records and results...remember, the Hemi and the lightweight Max Wedge's were both 426/425 hp...So they fell into the same class. A well tuned Hemi car should have been king over the MW cars in the same class anytime they ran.

Aluminum was banned for 1965 and later...but only on "new" production cars. 1964 and earlier cars are/were still legal with the aluminum body panels.

Steve, IIRC the Race Hemi was factored right away up to 480-505hp, somewhere in there. Otherwise, the Hemi would have run in AA/S with a wt/hp of 7.60 or so - same class as the Ford LWG Galaxie HiRiser. By factoring the Race Hemi, that put its wt/hp under 7.00, about 6.50 or so, and up into S/S class.


Now, if the MaxWedge was ALSO factored, it would be up there in S/S and lose to the Hemi. But everything I hear is, the MaxWedge was NOT factored and so its unfactored Wt/hp of 7.80-8.00 puts it into AA/S==7.00 class, right in there with the Ford LWG.


So my question stands!