1973 Nova Parts and Restoration Information

In 1973 Chevrolet once again reworked the Nova to introduce a hatchback body style and also restyled the front and rear end.

Due to new government mandates, Chevrolet had to redesign the front and rear bumpers to increase the size and strength. This was in order to comply with new automotive safety standards. A new grille with crosshatch inserts and parking lights located inside of the headlights were also added. Every Nova in 1973 also received side guard door beams, additional sound insulation, and better flow-through ventilation.

The Super Sport option still remained available but was mainly a visual package. It featured a blacked out grille, rally wheels, and could be ordered with any of the available engines. By 1973 the 307 and 350 were the most common of engine options available for the Chevy Nova.


1973 Nova OEM Brochure

Images provided by My Classic Garage


1973 Nova Model Options

 
Body Style & Model Options:
  • Coupe
  • 4-Door Sedan
  • Hatchback Coupe
  • Custom Hatchback
  • Custom Coupe
  • Custom 4-Door Sedan
 
Engine Options:
  • L22 – Turbo-Thrift 250 | 250ci | 100hp L6
  • L14 – Turbo-Fire 307 | 307ci | 115hp V8
  • L65 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 145hp V8
  • L48 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 175hp V8
 
Available Transmission:
  • Powerglide
  • 4-Speed Manual
  • 3-Speed
  • Turbo Hydra-Matic
 
Production Numbers:
  • Nova: 369,509
    • 2-Door Coupe: 0
    • 2-Door Convertible: 0
    • 2-Door Hatchback: 91,012
    • 2-Door Sedan: 194,197
    • 4-Door Sedan: 84,300
    • 4-Door Wagon: 0
    • Super Sport: 35,542
 
Dimensions & Capacities:
  • Length: 194.3 in / 16.19 ft
  • Width: 72.4 in / 6.03 ft
  • Height:
    • 2-Door Sedan: 52.4 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

 

1973 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 @ 1600 RPM

3.875 x 3.53 8.5:1

V8

307ci

1x2bbl

L14

115 hp @ 3600 RPM

205 lb-ft @ 2000 RPM

3.875 x 3.25 8.5:1

V8

350ci

1x2bbl

L65

145 hp @ 4000 RPM

255 lb-ft @ 2400 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1

V8

350ci

1x4bbl

L48

175 hp @ 4000 RPM

260 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1
1973 Nova 6 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

CCA

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

Powerglide

CCB

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

Powerglide

NB2 California Emissions

CCC

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

NB2 California Emissions

CCD

250 cid 1x1bbl

100 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

1973 Nova 8 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

CHA

307 cid 1x2bbl

115 hp L14

TH350

CHB

307 cid 1x2bbl

115 hp L14

3-Speed Manual

CHC

307 cid 1x2bbl

115 hp L14

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CHD

307 cid 1x2bbl

115 hp L14

3-Speed Manual

NB2 California Emissions

CHH

307 cid 1x2bbl

115 hp L14

TH350

CHK

307 cid 1x2bbl

115 hp L14

TH350 and NB2

NB2 California Emissions

CKA

350 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp L65

3-Speed Manual

CKB

350 cid 1x4bbl

175 hp L48

4-Speed

CKC

350 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp L65

3-Speed Manual

NB2 California Emissions

CKD

350 cid 1x4bbl

175 hp L48

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CKH

350 cid 1x4bbl

175 hp L48

4-Speed Manual

NB2 California Emissions

CKK

350 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp L65

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CKR

350 cid 1x4bbl

175 hp L48

TH350

NB2 California Emissions

CKU

350 cid 1x4bbl

175 hp L48

TH350

CKW

350 cid 1x2bbl

145 hp L65

TH350

Click here for further engine decoding information

1973 Nova Transmission Codes

Code

Description

Engines

Assembly Plant

TM

3-Speed

L6, V8

S = Muncie

VC

4-Speed

V8

P = Muncie

TR

Powerglide

L6

C = Cleveland

FA

TH350

V8

B = Cleveland | Y = Toleldo

Click here for further transmission decoding information

1973 Nova Rear Axle Ratio

Code Axle Ratio

Notes

JA

2.73:1

Open

JB

3.08:1

Open

JC

3.42:1

Open

JM

2.73:1

Posi

JN

3.08:1

Posi

JP

3.42:1

Posi

Click here for further rear axle decoding information

1973 Nova Factory Options

Regular Production Option (RPO)

RPO Description Units
AK1 Deluxe belts & harness front 22,416
A01 Tinted Glass – all windows 180,816
A02 Tinted Glass – windshield only 5,856
A51 Front bucket seat – Strato type 45,433
B37 Floor mats 50,975
B84 Body side molding 96,059
B93 Door edge guards 73,006
CF1 Skyroof 3,259
C08 Exterior soft trim roof cover 42,710
C50 Rear window defroster 30,046
C60 Air Conditioning – deluxe 127,212
D33 Outside mirror – remote control 40,848
D35 Sport mirrors 28,842
D55 Front compartment floor console 34,521
F40 Special heavy duty front & rear suspension 16,576
F41 Special performance front & rear suspension 4,770
G80 Rear axle – Positraction 14,699
JL2 Disc brakes front 77,448
J50 Vacuum power brake equipment 36,943
K05 Engine block heater 2,849
L22 L6 engine – 250 106,437
L48 V8 engine – 350 16,238
L65 V8 engine – 350 2-bbl 104,036
M11 3-speed Floor shift transmission control 17,712
M15 3-speed manual transmission 37,613
M20 4-speed manual transmission 8,140
M35 Powerglide transmission 78,194
M38 3-speed automatic transmission – TH350 245,562
N33 Comfortilt steering wheel 7,774
N40 Power steering 296,966
N65 Spacesaver spare tire 733
N95 Simulated wire wheel trim cover 903
P01 Wheel trim cover 150,303
P06 Wheel trim ring 13,116
QEB E70-14/B white letter tires 26,341
QEE E78-14 white stripe tires 214,410
QEH E78-14/B bias belt tires – white stripe 30,254
T60 Heavy duty battery 17,282
U05 Dual horn 2
U17 Front compartment console instrument cluster 10,002
U35 Electric clock 17,510
U63 Radio – AM push button 304,890
U69 Radio – AM/FM push button 22,990
U76 Windshield antenna 1,066
U80 Auxiliary speaker 49,611
VE5 Deluxe bumpers 5,558
V01 Heavy duty radiator 32,834
YA7 California assembly line emission test 27,940
YD1 Axle for trailering 1,100
ZJ4 Trailering towing package 67
ZJ5 Exterior decor package 146,831
ZJ7 Special wheel, hub cap and trim ring (Rally wheel) 67,920
ZJ9 Auxiliary lighting group 19,525
Z26 Super Sport 35,542
Z54 Interior decor/quiet group 25,217
751 Interior trim – black vinyl 54,025
753 Interior trim – black vinyl 19,648
757 Interior trim – dark green vinyl 11,441
760 Interior trim – dark green vinyl 19,924
767 Interior trim – medium chamois vinyl 15,327
984 Color combination two-tone – dark blue / white 3,918
990 Color combination two-tone – light green / white 3,866
991 Color combination two-tone – green gold / white 3,619
993 Color combination two-tone – light yellow / white 1,109
994 Color combination two-tone – chamois / white 2,629
995 Color combination two-tone – med orange / white 1,692

1973 Nova Cowl Tag Info

1973 Nova Example Cowl Tag & Breakdown

1973 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

73 = 1973

1 = Chevrolet

XX = Nova

17 = 2-Door Hatchback

L = Van Nuys, CA

Starts at 100001

   

XY = Nova Custom

27 = 2-Door Sedan

W = Willow Run, MI

 
     

69 = 4-Door Hatchback

   
           

Line 2: Trim and Paint

Interior Trim

Seat Type

Exterior Paint (Lower/Upper)

750 = Black Sport Cloth Bench (Custom)

A51 = Bucket Seats

11 = Antique White

751 = Black Knit Vinyl Bench or Buckets (Standard)

A52 = Bench Seat

24 = Light Blue Metallic

752 = Black Sport Cloth Bench of Buckets (Custom)

 

26 = Dark Blue Metallic

753 = Black Knit Vinyl Bench (Standard)

 

29 = Midnight Blue Metallic

754 = Black Perforated Vinyl Buckets (Custom)

 

42 = Dark Green Metallic

755 = Black Cloth Bench (Standard)

 

44 = Light Green Metallic

756 = Blue Cloth Bench (Standard)

 

46 = Green-Gold Metallic

757 = Green Knit Vinyl Bench (Standard)

 

48 = Midnight Green

758 = Green Cloth Bench (Standard)

 

51 = Light Yellow

759 = Green Cloth Bench (Standard)

 

56 = Chamois

760 = Green Knit Vinyl Bench (Standard)

 

60 = Light Copper Metallic

761 = Green Cloth Bench (Custom)

 

64 = Silver Metallic

763 = Neutral Knit Vinyl Buckets (Standard)

 

68 = Dark Brown Metallic

764 = Neutral Cloth Bench (Custom)

 

74 = Dark Red Metallic

767 = Chamois Knit Vinyl Bench (Standard)

 

75 = Medium Red

769 = Neutral Cloth Bench (Standard)

 

97 = Medium Orange Metallic

770 = Green Cloth Bench (Custom)

 

A = White Vinyl Roof

771 = Neutral Perforated Vinyl Buckets (Custom)

 

B = Black Vinyl Roof

772 = Blue Cloth Bench (Standard)

 

D = Blue Vinyl Roof

   

F = Chamois Vinyl Roof

   

G = Green Vinyl Roof

   

H = Maroon Vinyl Roof

   

T = Neutral 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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