OK, please enlighten me. Will the 426 hemi head bolt to a 426 wedge block? Also, since the boreand stroke are the same, will the hemi piston work in an RB block?
I think stage 4 made a kit that with machining will allow hemi heads to go on a wedge block. Main problem is 426 hemi heads have long head studs that bolt onto cast bosses in the lifter valley on a hemi block. Either way you go about it whether you go wedge block or hemi block it's $$$$$. And the hemi blocks have 4 bolt mains, wedge doesn't. Save yourself a lot of dough and just buy a mopar crate hemi...alot cheaper in the end.
Pistons are completely different between wedge and Hemi engines (inline valves versus opposed valves, wedge versus dome combustion chambers). Factory Hemi heads and blocks have provisions for oil drainback that wedges do not have. Valvetrain is completely different between the two. Hemi blocks use crossbolted mains that the wedge never got. There are aftermarket Hemi head to wedge block conversions, but they are of course a little pricey. But I think your original question was if the heads will bolt on, and yes they will. The Hemi pistons will fit in a wedge block, but they will pop up past the deck about a quarter inch or more. Not sure what you're after, but here is an article that discusses some of the differences. http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/mopar/bigblock/0506em_hemi/index.html
I wrote an article on this very subject for Canadian Classics. I had both engines in my shop at the same time and was writing for them. Around 2000 maybe if someone has it. Basically no . The bore and stroke are the same (4.25 X 3.75) and the crank bearings both rod and main are the same size. Waterpumps and timing covers and pans work but the Hemi had head bolts that bolted from upside down in the lifter valey (studs and Nuts actually) Four of them on each side. The 426 Wedge has normal bolts and is the same bolt pattern as the 350 361 383 400 413 and 440. HOWEVER (big word isnt it?) What is wrong with doing a 426 Max wedge. These engines are brutal. They have bad manners and lots of git. I drive one almost everyday in the summer time. There were made three ways basically . Crossram (which came in two compression ratios) Single four barel NASCAR MAX WEDGE intake (early was a single plane intake , later a dual plane was made . That is what i have) In 65 they made for a while a Street Wedge 426 which was basically a baby 440 . In 67 it was upped in size to a 440 (.070 bore increase) Here ave a listen http://www.dropshots.com/Dolmetsch#date/2006-11-02/10:26:56. I wouldnt want to bet on the outcome but I would not hesitate to run a Street driven hemi with this car. He or she would know at least they had to work hard to squeak by. And yes Virginia, I have owned ,street driven and raced a 426 Hemi also. Other differences are block and rods. The rods in a 426 wedge at 6.760 , the hemi's are 6.960 I think if memory serves me correctly. Also the 426 block has mounting ears for the standard Mopar BB mounts. The "original" Hemis did not and used a fabbed steel mount that bolted with three studs per side right into the lower block skirt. The Hemi blocks have the centre three mains crossbolted and use a large 1/2 Id oil pick up. Also the hemi drains oil back to the pan through drain holes at the four outside corners and the block is cast with provisions for that. On a 426 Wedge block they are not there so the drain holes would not be covered on Hemi head installation. The BB wedge engines ,all of them drain all the oil down over the cam . Yes there are conversions but the 426 MAX WEDGE is a serious piece too. A good one could be put together using Eddy heads. Mopar still sells the MW single four or the crossram . A&A has the crossram as well. Don
At least one vendor (Stage V) has conversion heads, but like any hemi, it is going to add up to some serious coin before you are done. http://www.stagev.com/pages/hcheads.html
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