Chevrolet Nova 1971 Drag Radial

A 1971 Chevy Nova originally left the factory with a base inline-six – this one now runs a 406 cubic-inch small block with a full roller valvetrain and a build claiming 572 horsepower to the wheels. Paired with drag radials instead of slicks, it’s built to be raced and driven home the same day. See why the 406 stroker combination remains one of the most popular small-block builds in drag radial racing, and what it takes to make that kind of power reliably.

406ci Small Block, 572hp FULL Roller Motor!!

A stock 1971 Nova came from the factory with a 250 cubic-inch straight-six as the base engine – nothing that would turn a single head at a stoplight. This one has nothing left in common with that except the sheet metal. Whoever built it dropped in a 406 cubic-inch small block with a full roller valvetrain, and the build claims 572 horsepower to the wheels, numbers that would have been unthinkable from a small block when this Nova was new. Add drag radials instead of full slicks and you’ve got a car built to be driven to the track, raced, and driven home – not trailered. What does it actually take to squeeze that kind of power out of a small block Chevy without giving up street manners?

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Why 406 Is the Sweet Spot for Small Block Builders

The 406 combination – a 400 block bored out and paired with a 3.75-inch stroke crank – has been a favorite among small-block builders for exactly this reason: it’s not the biggest displacement you can build, but it’s one of the most balanced. 400 blocks are known for being genuinely strong right out of the factory, and stroked out to 406 cubes they can support serious power without needing exotic aftermarket blocks. Add a full roller cam and rockers, and you’re looking at a combination that can rev cleanly and survive the kind of abuse a real street/strip car dishes out weekend after weekend.

Drag Radials Change the Whole Game

Running drag radials instead of slicks isn’t just a tire choice – it’s a philosophy. A radial-tire car has to put its power down without the extra bite a slick provides, which means the whole combination, from the converter to the rear gear, has to be dialed in tighter. Builders chasing quick radial times on a small block have learned that a well-built 406 with the right heads and cam can get there without forced induction, which is exactly the kind of naturally-aspirated, old-school approach that keeps this era of small block Chevy relevant at the drag strip today.

A Nova That Would Make the Factory Blush

A stock ’71 Nova was never meant to run these kinds of numbers, and that’s exactly the appeal. Small block Chevys in 400/406 trim keep proving that you don’t need a big block or a turbo kit to build something genuinely fast – you just need the right combination and someone willing to put in the work. Cars like this are why the small block Chevy remains one of the most built engines in drag racing history, decades after Chevrolet stopped putting them in Novas.

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