1,500-hp of Four-door Fury

It’s not often that you see a maximum-effort street car that is also a fearsome competitor on the drag strip. Did we mention it’s a wagon? Talk about rare! This four-door flyer is the product of drag racing enthusiast Frank Harder, who bought the ’67 Nova wagon as his first car when he was 15 years old. Initially ar had an inline-six and a Powerglide, but that engine was soon yanked in favor of a small-block Chevy. After winning several races in high school, Frank’s Nova gradually went faster and faster, eventually dipping into the nines with a blown small-block in a chassis that was still relatively stock.

In 2012, Frank decided he wanted to step it up, so he had a full 2×3-inch frame rail rectangular tube chassis built for the Nova. The new chassis features a fabricated rearend from Chris Alston’s Chassisworks, along with a 4-link suspension. The front end received the full treatment too, with an Alston bolt-on front clip and tubular A-arm suspension, which was tied together with a rack-and-pinion steering setup. The final step involved building a custom firewall, 7.50-spec cage and setting the driver back a whopping 12 inches, which helped immensely with weight transfer.

With a goal of running in the sevens, the small-block powering the Nova wasn’t up to the task; so, Frank stepped his engine program way up and started from scratch with a 565-ci big-block. Built by Jeff Simpson Racing Engines in Oroville, California, the Chevy features a Bow Tie block, Callies crank and GRP aluminum rods attached to 11.5:1 compression Ross Racing pistons. The valvetrain consists of a DRC roller camshaft that’s 290 degrees duration with a 0.850-inch lift, Morel lifters, Smith Brothers pushrods and a Jesel shaft rocker system.

Now on a solid foundation, Frank got a bit carried away regarding the engine’s airflow dynamics, which includes a set of 18-degree Big Chief cylinder heads featuring titanium valves. These altered-angle, high-flowing heads were further boosted by a Littlefield 10-71 supercharger. Methanol is the fuel of choice, and it’s delivered via an Enderle injection system topped by a Falk carbon-fiber injector hat. An MSD ignition system lights off the big motor.

With nearly double the horsepower, Frank had a slew of transmission problems, until he contacted Rod Burbage at Spec-Rite Torque Converters. Starting with a Reid case, Rod built one tough trans for the wagon, incorporating upgraded input, intermediate and output shafts, a revised clutch count, and a manual valve body with a trans-brake. One of Spec-Rite’s own 4,500-stall converters was used, along with a JW flex plate.

Street-legal 185/55R17 M&H tires are mounted on 17-inch Weld Alumastars. Out back, 33×10.5W Mickey Thompson tires set at about 10.5 psi provide the wheels-up action and are mounted on 15×14-inch Weld wheels with Champion beadlocks.

One of the most striking aspects of Frank’s Nova is the paint. Sprayed by Doug Reed at Reed’s Auto Body and Paint in Redding, California, the two-tone black- and-blue paint separated by a marbled stripe provides a truly unique look. Doug also modified the 6-inch cowl hood, which was extended to 8 inches and cut out for the blower.

After long nights and tons of hard work, did Frank’s wagon turn out the way he wanted? With a current Best Of 7.95 at 178 mph with a 1.21 60-foot time, we’d say he’s on the right track. Best of all, it’s got 2016 license tags and is consistent enough to bracket race. With a couple of grudge race wins under his belt, Frank’s unique creation is truly a triple threat.

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