1978 Nova Parts and Restoration Information

The base 1978 Nova model changed very little from 1977.

While the base car merely had a Chevy Bowtie emblem added to the leading edge of the hood, the Rally Novas got a new front end layout with a diamond-patterned grille, black headlight bezels and horizontal parking lights and new color-keyed Rally wheels and triple body stripes.

The same base L6 and two V8 options remained the same for 1978 models. So too did the three body styles, although the hatchback was significantly outsold by the coupe and sedan models.


1978 Chevy Nova Brochure


1978 Nova Model Options & Information

 
Body Styles:
  • 2-Door Coupe
  • 2-Door Hatchback
  • 4-Door Sedan

Trim Levels:

  • Nova
  • Custom
  • Nova Rally
 
Engine Options:
  • L22 – Turbo-Thrift 250 | 250ci | 110hp L6
  • LG3 – 305ci | 145hp V8
  • LM1 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 160hp V8
 
Production Numbers:
  • Nova: 288,109
    • 2-Door Coupe: 0
    • 2-Door Convertible: 0
    • 2-Door Hatchback: 12,665
    • 2-Door Sedan: 125,811
    • 4-Door Sedan: 149,633
    • 4-Door Wagon: 0
    • Super Sport: 0
 
Dimensions & Capacities:
  • Length: 196.7 in / 16.39 ft
  • Width: 72.2 in / 6.01 ft
  • Height:
    • 2-Door Hatch & 2-Door Sedan: 52.7 in / 4.39 ft
    • 4-Door Sedan: 53.6 in / 4.46 ft
  • Wheelbase: 111 in / 9.25 ft

 

1978 Nova Engine Codes & Specs

Available Engine Specifications

Type

Size

Carb

RPO

Horsepower

Torque

Bore & Stroke (in.)

Compression Ratio

L6

250ci

1x1bbl

L22

110 hp @ 3800 RPM

190 lb-ft @ 1600 RPM

3.875 x 3.53 8.1:1

V8

305ci

1x2bbl

LG3

145 hp @ 3800 RPM

245 lb-ft @ 2400 RPM

3.736 x 3.48 8.4:1

V8

350ci

1x4bbl

LM1

160 hp @ 3800 RPM

260 lb-ft @ 2400 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.2:1
1978 Nova 6 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

250

       
C3Y

250 cid 1x1bbl

110 hp L22

n/a

CCH

250 cid 1x1bbl

110 hp L22

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CCJ

250 cid 1x1bbl

110 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

CCK

250 cid 1x1bbl

110 hp L22

TH350

1978 Nova 8 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

305

       
CPJ

305 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp LG3

n/a

CTH

305 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp LG3

4-Speed Manual

CTJ

305 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp LG3

n/a

CTK

305 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp LG3

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

350

       

CHJ

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

TH350

CHL

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

TH350

CUM

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

n/a

CUR

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

n/a

CUS

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

n/a

Click here for further engine decoding information

1978 Nova Transmission Codes

Code

Description

Engines

Assembly Plant

UR

3-Speed

L6, V8

S = Muncie

ZM

4-Speed

V8

P = Muncie

5WZ

TH350

L6

D = Parma

AG

TH350

V8

Y = Toledo

Click here for further transmission decoding information

1978 Nova Rear Axle Codes

Code Axle Ratio

Notes

PA

2.73:1

Open

PC

3.08:1

Open

PE

3.42:1

Open

PH

2.56:1

Open

PJ

2.41:1

Open

PS

2.41:1

Positraction

PT

2.56:1

Positraction

PU

2.73:1

Positraction

PW

3.08:1

Positraction

PY

3.42:1

Positraction

2PA

2.73:1

Open

2PC

3.08:1

Open

2PU

2.73:1

Positraction

2PW

3.08:1

Positraction

2TV

2.41:1

Open

2TX

3.08:1

Open

2TY

2.73:1

Open

Click here for further rear axle decoding information

1978 Nova Factory Options

Regular Production Option (RPO)

RPO Description Unit
AB8 Formal rear quarter window – Cabriolet roof 9,352
AK1 Deluxe belts & harness front 53,239
AU3 Power door lock system 6,477
A01 Tinted Glass – all windows 159,067
A02 Tinted Glass – windshield only 6,575
A20 Swing-out rear quarter window 2,874
A31 Power windows 4,097
BW2 Deluxe body side molding 24,022
B3W Advance price sheet 27,418
B37 Floor mats 68,286
B51 Bright rocker and extension moldings 11,099
B74 Wide wheel opening moldings 12,763
B80 Roof drip rails 110,672
B84 Body side molding 177,978
B90 Door and window frame molding 26,214
B93 Door edge guards 34,536
B96 Wheel opening molding 34,598
CD4 Intermittent windshield wiper 7,435
C50 Rear window defroster 78,772
C60 Air Conditioning – deluxe 149,397
D31 Day-night inside rearview mirror 12,177
D33 Outside mirror – remote control 66,063
D35 Sport mirrors 41,678
D55 Front compartment floor console 5,008
D85 Body side pin striping 8,619
F40 Special heavy duty front & rear suspension 18,222
F41 Special performance front & rear suspension 3,489
G80 Rear axle – Positraction 8,169
G92 Rear axle – 3.08 ratio (Performance / High Altitude) 3,395
J50 Vacuum power brake equipment 220,133
K05 Engine block heater 7,442
K30 Cruise-master speed control 10,626
LG3 V8 engine – 305 2-bbl 92,184
LM1 V8 engine – 350 regular fuel 7,646
L22 L6 engine – 250 188,279
MM3 3-speed manual transmission 12,032
MM4 4-speed manual transmission 3,070
M38 3-speed automatic transmission – TH350 273,007
NA6 High altitude emission equipment 2,008
N33 Comfortilt steering wheel 29,753
N41 Variable ratio power steering 279,265
N65 Spacesaver spare tire 1,552
N95 Simulated wire wheel trim cover 4,037
P01 Wheel trim cover 170,248
QBT FR78-14/B steel belt radial tires – white letter 4,053
QDV FR78-14/B steel belt radial tires – blackwall 18,631
QDW FR78-14/B steel belt radial tires – white stripe 107,766
QEG E78-14/B Bias belt tires – blackwall 37,216
QEH E78-14/B bias belt tires – white stripe 120,455
UA1 Heavy duty battery 18,612
UM1 Stereo tape system w/AM radio 2,393
UM2 Stereo tape & AM/FM stereo radio 2,150
U05 Dual horn 17,937
U14 Special instrumentation 3,724
U35 Electric clock 20,216
U58 AM/FM stereo radio 4,926
U63 Radio – AM push button 181,818
U69 Radio – AM/FM push button 22,386
U76 Windshield antenna 53,512
U80 Auxiliary speaker 13,312
V01 Heavy duty radiator 12,409
V30 Front & rear bumper guards 38,423
YC8 Demo option drive 1,241
YF5 California assembly line emission test 17,968
YJ7 Demo drive 669
ZJ3 Interior convenience package 47,085
ZJ7 Special wheel, hub cap and trim ring (Rally wheel) 34,778
ZJ9 Auxiliary lighting group 24,445
ZN5 Color keyed Rally wheels 6,739
Z26 Rally Nova package 6,903
Z49 Canadian base equipment 25,514
11L Antique white 24,109
11N White vinyl bench / black accents 1,713
11T White vinyl roof cover 4,283
15L Silver 29,388
15T Silver vinyl roof cover 1,484
19L Black 6,246
19R Black vinyl buckets 16,274
19T Black vinyl roof cover 1,764
19Z Black vinyl bench 2,634
22L Light blue metallic 47,831
22T Light blue vinyl roof cover 2,537
24B Blue knit cloth bench 27,166
24D Blue knit cloth bench 9,156
24L Medium blue 19,091
24R Blue vinyl buckets 43,867
44L Medium green 17,061
44N Green vinyl bench 5,766
44T Medium green vinyl roof cover 1,741
48L Dark blue-green metallic 12,786
51L Bright yellow 5,123
61L Light buckskin 19,779
61T Light buckskin vinyl roof cover 6,252
62B Camel knit cloth bench 38,842
62D Camel knit cloth bench 8,762
62N Camel vinyl bench 10,630
62R Camel vinyl buckets 62,263
62Z Camel vinyl bench 3,892
63L Light saddle metallic 31,200
67L Medium saddle metallic 10,879
69L Dark brown metallic 25,929
74D Carmine knit cloth bench 6,244
74N Carmine vinyl bench 8,157
74R Carmine vinyl buckets 42,754
75L Light red 9,199
77L Carmine metallic 25,431
79T Dark carmine metallic vinyl roof cover 1,834

1978 Nova Cowl Tag Info

1978 Nova Example Cowl Tag & Breakdown

1978 nova

The Cowl Trim Tag, located on the cowl area identifies significant information about your car. 

Click here for further cowl tag decoding information

Line 1: Year, GM Division, Model & Body, Assembly Plant, Sequence Number

Year

GM Division

Model Series

Body Code

Assembly Plant

Sequence Number

77 = 1977

1 = Chevrolet

XX = Nova

17 = 2-Door Hatchback

T = Tarrytown, NY

Sequence Starts at 100001

   

XY = Nova Custom

27 = 2-Door Sedan

W = Willow Run, MI

 
     

69 = 4-Door Sedan

   
           

Line 2: Trim and Paint

Interior Trim

Seat Type

Exterior Paint (Lower/Upper)

11N = White Vinyl Bench

A51 = Bucket Seats

11 = White

19R = Black Vinyl Bench

A52 = Bench Seat

15 = Silver Metallic

24B = Light Blue Cloth Bench

 

19 = Black

24D = Light Blue Cloth Bench

 

22 = Light Blue Metallic

24R = Light Blue Vinyl Bench

 

24 = Ultramarine Blue Metallic

44N = Dark Green Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

44 = Medium Green Metallic

62B = Camel Tan Cloth Bench

 

48 = Dark Blue-Green Metallic

62D = Camel Tan Cloth Bench

 

51 = Bright Yellow

62N = Camel Tan Cloth Bench

 

61 = Camel Beige

62R = Camel Tan Vinyl Bench

 

63 = Camel Tan Metallic

74D = Carmine Cloth Bench

 

67 = Saffron Metallic

74N = Carmine Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

69 = Dark Camel Metallic

74R = Carmine Vinyl Bench

 

75 = Medium Red

   

77 = Carmine Metallic

Cloth and Vinyl Usage:

 

11T = White Vinyl Roof

B = Bordeau Woven Sport Cloth

 

15T = Silver Vinyl Roof

D = Edinburgh Woven Sport Cloth

 

19T = Black Vinyl Roof

N = Wallaby Vinyl

 

22T = Light Blue Vinyl Roof

R = Plisse Vinyl

 

44T = Light Green Vinyl Roof

   

61T = Light Camel Vinyl Roof

   

79T = Dark Carmine Vinyl Roof

Line 3: Build Month and Week

Month

Week

01 = January

A = First Week

02 = February

B = Second Week

03 = March

C = Third Week

04 = April

D = Fourth Week

05 = May

E = Fifth Week

06 = June

 

07 = July

 

08 = August

 

09 = September

 

10 = October

 

11 = November

 

12 = December

 

Disclaimer
*The numbers have been compiled from many sources to make these pages as correct as possible. There is no guarantee that the numbers are complete or accurate, therefore, we cannot accept any liability or responsibility for damages incurred from the use of this information.

Additional 1978 Nova Links:

 

Customer Cars

1978 Nova


Shop For 1978 Nova Parts


Request Nova Catalog


1978 Nova Resources

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