hemi vs wedge head motor

Can anyone tell me what are the biggest reason why most blown engines are hemi instead of wedge heads? The flow numbers on some wedge heads are just as good.

 

Because the hemi motors are more durable and are built for big horsepower.

 

I think it's also a matter of fuel volumes, available compression and the way the mixture burns in a Hemi. Not to say that it can't be done.. I know Rob Atchison uses the AJ481X wedge setup with a block that uses chevy mains and made really good power with the roots setup. The block is what impressed me, I asked sometime back if they ever smoked the rear main, his guy Dennis at the shop just says "Blackened rear main? What's that?"

 

I think it also has something to do with used part availibility.

Also that the more people use the hemi in blown situations means for manufacturing reasons they can get cheaper.

Technology trickles down,,,
Can you legally even run a wedge head in a fuel car?

 

wedge motors

There are a few of us wedge guys out there, I think the main reason people always lean toward the hemi is the simple fact that more of them have been built more people are comfortable building and tuning the hemi motor.

The parts selection is poor with a wedge expecially heads, you have the big Indy's or the B1, pretty much it. Pistons are a special order thing for us, you could build around some shelf pistons maybe.....maybe.

Im really impressed with our combo, granted its no HH 14-71 motor making 48lbs of boost, but we put down a good number for an old 8-71 at only 28% over.

 

Hemi v wedge

We switched from a wedge to a hemi. I think you can probably get the same power from a wedge, but it's easier (you can buy it) with a hemi setup and in the end costs will probably be the same to be competitive. I think costs for parts and maintenance will depend on the amount of HP rather than the head style.
I personally like ease of maintenance on the hemi engine and the valve train setup. We ran a jesel setup on the wedge, but still the hemi shaft rockers are much easier to work on and more rigid.

Just my 2cts

 

Ease of changing and checking spark plugs is reason enough on most cars.Plus look at the valve angle,hard to get that on any wedge.

 

No. You cannot run a wedge on a fuel car. (NHRA and IHRA top fuel/funny car.)
You can, and lots do on nostalgia front engine and stuff, where the rules are not limited.

 

wedge

the 481X is the most advanced wedge engine. They can make serious power and are easier to maintain in some ways. We run a 14 degree big chief that makes comparable power but it's cast block/heads.
Most of the hemi programs seem like monkey see monkey do. A wedge can easily run with fuel headed hemis on alcohol.
A max effort billet hemi with a screwcharger seems to pull away from even a 481X.I've been told that only the hemis can breathe well and live at 10000 rpm plus that the screw blowers like.
The MBR/Fontana/Arias uses a Chevy crank and bottom end with the hemi top end. They make huge durable power but they are rare so they will never be as cheap as a BAE or Veney setup.

 

I switched to a MBR Fontana Hemi from an 18deg big chief chevy and couldn't be more pleased. Price was same as or cheaper than a Brad, AJ or 481X. LOVE my Bob Miner Hemi. Plus it's faster than my chevy was.

 

Walt Austin

It would be tough to discount the fact that Walt ran the A.J. for years. 5.56 or 5.58 was his personal best with the wedge engine at 92% over. There are many, many hemi engines out there that wish that they could say the same.

Regards
Kyle Harris

 

You are %100 correct Mike and a prime example of this was Rick Santos with his wedge headed smallblock Chevy's , he was so fast against the Hemis that they ruled him out of the class. Then he came back with a Hemi and continued to cut throats !

 

Mike C I'll stand by my monkey see statement. There are at least 3 serious wedge programs in ADRL PX. Lower dollar teams without any Manzo talent that run hard. As far as new head designs and such the wedge stuff development is stagnant yet they are still competitive.
I see a combination that was killed by a lack of popularity. On the used market,you can't give a wedge combo away.
Our Big Chief Olds makes 2500 plus hp and wouldn't bring 20k on the open market hat to pan. Add 10k if it said "hemi" in the add because all the monkeys need hemis to run fast.

Mike

 

10-4 to that one

 

so Manzo,Taylor,Hernandez Stott Burgess/Billes and more than a few dozen more are monkeys? I think they use a hemi cause they know from experience what makes more power, sure 481x is a very good piece no argument, but its not a hemi, the parts are not so available or cheap, there is not so much info available,
big chief is old cast stuff, you expect the same money as billet hemi stuff?
sorry im firmly with mike on this one apples and oranges

 

Myself I like the 481x because it's so easy to work on, everything fits when you buy it,and has no valvetrain-rocker-pushrod problems. It may be a little down on power compared to some Hemi's, but works pretty good for a one man operation
You couldnt give me another Big Chief deal, those are like fabricating an engine from scratch.