1962 Dart Max Wedge Tribute

[Dave6T4]

I went with a buddy today to inspect a car he was thinking of buying. In a weak moment a few years ago, he sold his 1967 Belvedere II hardtop, and has regretted it ever since. He has searched the internet, used car ads, etc. for a replacement. We were at a local car show yesterday, and he saw a car he liked, and the owner said it was for sale. The car is a 1962 Dart done up as a Max Wedge tribute. It was a California car with minimal rust in the lower front fenders and rear quarters. It began life with a slant six and three on the tree. It now has a '62 Max Wedge top end on a '77 440 motorhome block. He says the compression is low enough that he can use 87 octane gas in it with no problems. The car has a 1965 833 4-speed and 1967 Dana 60 with 4.10 gears on super stock springs. The front end has been upgraded to disc brakes. The car features stainless steel Max Wedge exhaust with electric cutouts. Body work, paint and interior have all been done within the past five years. The paint is still excellent, and it appears that no expense has been spared in this build. The owner took me for a ride on a back paved road. He stopped, revved it up and dumped the clutch. It spun all the way through first, and tried to go sideways when he power shifted second. Mark straightened it out and got on it again. It continued to spin through second gear and into third. I was impressed that this low compression engine had that much power. He says it runs high twelves in the quarter, which I think is good for a street driven car. Yeah, my friend bought it.

 

[Jerry Hall]

62 Darts, you either love them or hate them. I love mine.

 

[Dave6T4]

My first Dodge was a '62 Dart coupe that had been an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser. I bought in 1967 for $500. It had a 313 Poly with 3-speed stick on column. It also had 15" rims and big brakes. The engine was pretty tired, so I replaced it with a 383 4-speed.
I don't think my friend is totally sold on the looks of the '62, but I assured him that they would grow on him. Something like that first taste of beer.

 

[33 IMP]

I bought my 62 cause I heard they were the lightest b-bodies ever. And I had made a deal on a maxwedge engine. The longer you have a 62, the more it will grow on you. And it's not like you see them everywhere.
That's a nice car, wish it was mine!
(Some will say it will grow on you...... like a bad rash, Lol)

 

[Frank Mopar]

People always come up and say, “what is that?”

 

[eric383]

Very cool!

 

[barbee6043]

I love those 62's!! Mine is a more door door hey it was pretty darn

solid Tx car and cheap!!!

 

[Dave6T4]

I love those 62's!! Mine is a more door door hey it was pretty darnView attachment 1165901 solid Tx car and cheap!!!

That's what I have found. Twice the doors = half the price.

 

[barbee6043]

That's what I have found. Twice the doors = half the price.

Yes for sure!!!! Funny how I did the body/paint on this more door, then people want it for a "parts" car. I admit I have 5 Mopars and at 73 I don't need that many, but I figure I saved this 62 and hope it will never see the crusher or get parted. Totally solid car, and still a roller but it will get a teener and become another cruiser!
I also have a 64 Bel more door I got in $500 in it) on trade, PO had already installed a whole AMD floor pan and only other rust was on hood. It even came with a good running poly 318! It now has fresh paint too, and a set of new SmittyBilt A100 style buckets! Drives perfect!!

 

[Dave6T4]

Yes for sure!!!! Funny how I did the body/paint on this more door, then people want it for a "parts" car. I admit I have 5 Mopars and at 73 I don't need that many, but I figure I saved this 62 and hope it will never see the crusher or get parted. Totally solid car, and still a roller but it will get a teener and become another cruiser!
I also have a 64 Bel more door I got in $500 in it) on trade, PO had already installed a whole AMD floor pan and only other rust was on hood. It even came with a good running poly 318! It now has fresh paint too, and a set of new SmittyBilt A100 style buckets! Drives perfect!!

View attachment 1165918 View attachment 1165919

Wowzer! You got the whole car for the cost of the front floor!

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

Love the car! 62's are the best.

 

[barbee6043]

Wowzer! You got the whole car for the cost of the front floor!

Yes but I met the guy half way and that was a half days drive just to meet!!! I traded a 77 Volare wagon project rust free, compete non runner he wanted. Yes I was really going to pull that poly and put it in the 62 more door Dart, but the Bel was so nice I could not think of parting it out!! So I have both cars!!

 

[dmoore]

Not there yet

 

[6PKRTSE]

Awesome 62. I love 62's. I just picked up a 63 Belvedere and will be making a Max Wedge tribute car out of it. Who and where has the upper end parts to get me started, intake, linkages, manifolds, etc?

 

[Dave6T4]

Awesome 62. I love 62's. I just picked up a 63 Belvedere and will be making a Max Wedge tribute car out of it. Who and where has the upper end parts to get me started, intake, linkages, manifolds, etc?

A&A Transmissions near Indianapolis reproduces the intake manifolds with port sizes to fit either 423/426 Max Wedge heads or 440 heads. They also do the exhaust manifolds and linkage. They have all kinds of parts to build a stout 727 as well. A catalogue is available.

 

[Dipstick]

Saw this at HAN years ago.

 

[moparsquid]

my 62

 

[Dave6T4]

People always come up and say, “what is that?”

View attachment 1165880

Tell them it's a Studebaker. That's what my buddy does with his.

 

[khryslerkid]

Tell them it's a Studebaker. That's what my buddy does with his.

I'll have to remember that one

Not a Maxi, maybe a Maxi wannabe. The two fours are going the wrong way!

 

[62maxx]

Love that Maxie tribute, Dave! I'm putting more effort into getting my '62 streetable for 2022. FINALLY got the new floor pans welded in this year in 2022.