1974 Nova Parts and Restoration Information

The 1974 Nova was the final year for the third generation Chevy X-Body. It featured minor changes such as larger parking lights, a new bowtie grille emblem, and new larger bumpers that help in minor impacts.

The SS option was slightly revised with new stripes now on the hood and trunk. The tail light panel was no longer painted black but the window frames and sport mirrors were. The Powerglide transmission was also replaced by a lighter weight version of the 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 350. The 307 cubic inch engine was also dropped as an option which left only the Turbo-Fire 350 as the V8 option.

In celebration of the upcoming bicentennial, Chevrolet created the Spirit of America Nova (RPO-Z51). This one-year option included special red, white, and blue trim, stripes, and interior. There were roughly 390,537 Novas built in 1974 and only 14,463 Spirit of America Novas were ever built.


1974 Chevy Nova OEM Brochure


1974 Nova Information

 
Body Style & Model Options:
  • Coupe
  • 4-Door Sedan
  • Hatchback Coupe
  • Hatchback Custom
  • Coupe Custom
  • 4-Door Sedan Custom
 
Engine Options:
  • L22 – Turbo-Thrift 250 | 250ci | 100hp L6
  • L65 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 145hp V8
  • LM1 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 160hp V8
  • L48 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 185hp V8
 
Available Transmission:
  • 4-Speed Manual
  • 3-Speed
  • Turbo Hydra-Matic
 
Production Numbers:
  • Nova: 390,537
    • 2-Door Coupe: 0
    • 2-Door Convertible: 0
    • 2-Door Hatchback: 80,633
    • 2-Door Sedan: 210,984
    • 4-Door Sedan: 98,920
    • 4-Door Wagon: 0
    • Super Sport: 21,419
 
Dimensions & Capacities:
  • Length: 196.7 in / 16.39 ft
  • Width: 72.4 in / 6.03 ft
  • Height:
    • 2-door Sedan: 52.5 in / 4.36 ft
    • 2-Door Hatchback: 52.5 in / 4.36 ft
    • 4-Door Sedan: 53.9 in / 4.49 ft
  • Wheelbase: 111 in / 9.25 ft

 

1974 Nova Engine Codes & Specs

Available Engine Specifications

Type

Size

Carb

RPO

Horsepower

Torque

Bore & Stroke (in.)

Compression Ratio

L6

250ci

1x1bbl

L22

100 hp @ 3600 RPM

175 lb-ft @ 1800 RPM

3.875 x 3.53 8.25:1

V8

350ci

1x2bbl

L65

145 hp @ 3800 RPM

250 lb-ft @ 2200 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1

V8

350ci

1x4bbl

LM1

160 hp @ 3800 RPM

250 lb-ft @ 2400 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1

V8

350ci

1x4bbl

L48

185 hp @ 4000 RPM

270 lb-ft @ 2600 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1
1974 Nova 6 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

CCK

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

TH350

CCR

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

CCW

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CCX

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

TH350

CJA

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

CJB

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CJC

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

TH350

1974 Nova 8 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

CKB

350 cid 1x4bbl

185 hp L48

4-Speed Manual

CKD

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

TH350

CKH

350 cid 1x4bbl

160 hp LM1

3-Speed Manual

NB2 California Emissions

CKU

350 cid 1x4bbl

185 hp L48

TH350

CMA

350 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp L65

TH350

CMC

350 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp L65

3-Speed Manual

Click here for further engine decoding information

1974 Nova Transmission Codes

Code

Description

Engines

Assembly Plant

TM

3-Speed

L6, V8

S = Muncie

WC

4-Speed

V8

P = Muncie

TT

TH350

L6

B = Cleveland

TH

TH350

V8

Y = Toledo

Click here for further transmission decoding information

1974 Nova Rear Axle Codes

Code Axle Ratio

Notes

JA

2.73:1

Open

JB

3.08:1

Open

JC

3.42:1

Open

JM

2.73:1

Positraction

JN

3.08:1

Positraction

JP

3.42:1

Positraction

Click here for further rear axle decoding information

1974 Nova Factory Options

Regular Production Option (RPO)

RPO Description Units
AK1 Deluxe belts & harness front 28,701
A01 Tinted Glass – all windows 200,223
A02 Tinted Glass – windshield only 7,632
A51 Front bucket seat – Strato type 27,923
BS1 Quiet sound group 21,152
B2H Interim equipment change 37,741
B30 Floor covering 9,959
B37 Floor mats 75,701
B80 Roof drip rails 24,455
B84 Body side molding 117,597
B93 Door edge guards 80,282
CB1 Vinyl roof – touring 29,679
C08 Exterior soft trim roof cover 29,567
C50 Rear window defroster 49,337
C60 Air Conditioning – deluxe 123,370
C80 Front door jam switch 21,152
D33 Outside mirror – remote control 42,149
D35 Sport mirrors 17,782
D55 Front compartment floor console 34,512
D88 Super sport stripes 21,419
F40 Special heavy duty front & rear suspension 15,422
F41 Special performance front & rear suspension 891
G95 Rear axle – ratio (Economy) 214
JL2 Disc brakes front 97,517
J50 Vacuum power brake equipment 17,832
K05 Engine block heater 6,614
K77 55 amp delcotron generator 112,752
LM1 V8 engine – 350 regular fuel 14,800
L22 L6 engine – 250 171,116
L48 V8 engine – 350 14,597
L65 V8 engine – 350 2-bbl 189,705
L90 L6 engine – 250 low compression 314
M11 3-speed Floor shift transmission control 13,708
M15 3-speed manual transmission 44,322
M20 4-speed manual transmission 4,667
M38 3-speed automatic transmission – TH350 341,547
M40 3-speed automatic transmission – TH400 1
N33 Comfortilt steering wheel 5,755
N41 Variable ratio power steering 334,894
N65 Spacesaver spare tire 467
P01 Wheel trim cover 184,994
P06 Wheel trim ring 1,887
QDW FR78-14/B steel belt radial tires – white stripe 9,221
QEB E70-14/B white letter tires 10,816
QEE E78-14 white stripe tires 280,630
QEH E78-14/B bias belt tires – white stripe 6,950
UA1 Heavy duty battery 15,533
U05 Dual horn 14,042
U17 Front compartment console instrument cluster 5,475
U35 Electric clock 16,554
U37 Cigarette lighter 21,152
U58 AM/FM stereo radio 1,389
U63 Radio – AM push button 327,369
U69 Radio – AM/FM push button 15,295
U76 Windshield antenna 2,200
U80 Auxiliary speaker 30,047
VE5 Deluxe bumpers 6,504
V01 Heavy duty radiator 36,373
V32 Rear bumper guard equipment 9,710
ZJ4 Trailering towing package 807
ZJ5 Exterior decor package 138,287
ZJ7 Special wheel, hub cap and trim ring (Rally wheel) 51,255
ZJ9 Auxiliary lighting group 13,136
Z26 Super Sport 21,419
Z51 Spirit of America package 14,463
Z54 Interior decor/quiet group 21,152
751 Interior trim – black vinyl 12,910
753 Interior trim – black vinyl 5,687
757 Interior trim – dark green vinyl 5,742

1974 Nova Cowl Tag Info

1974 Nova Example Cowl Tag & Breakdown

1974 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

74 = 1974

1 = Chevrolet

XX = Nova

17 = 2-Door Hatchback

K = Kansas City, MO

Starts at 100001

   

XY = Nova Custom

27 = 2-Door Sedan

L = Van Nuys, CA

 
     

69 = 4-Door Sedan

W = Willow Run, MI

 

Line 2: Trim and Paint

Interior Trim

Seat Type

Exterior Paint (Lower/Upper)

750 = Black & White Check Cloth Bench

A51 = Bucket Seats

11 = Antique White

751 = Black Cloth Bench

A52 = Bench Seat

26 = Bright Blue Metallic

752 = Black Sport Cloth Bench or Buckets

 

29 = Midnight Blue Metallic

754 = Black Perforated Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

36 = Bright Aqua Metallic

755 = Medium Green & Black Sport Cloth Bench

 

40 = Lime Yellow

756 = Medium Green & Black Check Cloth Bench

 

46 = Bright Green Metallic

757 = Medium Green Cloth Bench

 

49 = Dark Green Metallic

759 = Medium Green Perforated Vinyl Buckets

 

50 = Cream Beige

764 = Light Neutral & Black Check Cloth Bench

 

51 = Bright Yellow

766 = Light Neutral Perforated Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

53 = Light Gold Metallic

771 = Midnight Blue Cloth Bench

 

55 = Sandstone

774 = White Buckets – Spirit of America

 

59 = Golden Brown Metallic

825 = Black Perforated Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

64 = Silver Metallic

826 = Midnight Blue Perforated Vinyl Bench

 

66 = Bronze Metallic

827 = Medium Saddle Perforated Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

74 = Dark Red Metallic

828 = Medium Green Perforated Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

75 = Medium Red

829 = Light Neutral Perforated Vinyl Bench or Buckets

 

A = White Vinyl Roof

   

B = Black Vinyl Roof

   

D = Blue Vinyl Roof

   

E = Cream Beige Vinyl Roof

   

F = Brown Vinyl Roof

   

G = Green Vinyl Roof

   

H = Maroon Vinyl Roof

   

L = Russet Vinyl Roof

   

R = Saddle Vinyl Roof

   

W = Silver 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.

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