73/74 what's different?

What are the obvious exterior differences between 73 & 74's?

I think the bumpers stick out even further on 74s but I'm no expert :)

The 74 has bumper shocks and the front filler panel is metal. The 73 has a rubber filler panel. Also, the Nova Emblems on the hood and trunk are different. I think that the bow tie emblem for the grill is a different color for each year (73,74). Some of the exterior paint would also be different.


novamaniac

Cool that's what I was looking for thanks for both replies.

Paul

73 Standard and Custom don't have a bowtie in the Grill.....74 Does.

73 SS cars have diecast SS badges on the fender sides and trunk- plus the side stripes----74 SS cars use stripes and decals.


74s are slightly longer due to the bumpers (bumpers are different- you can tell outwardly by how the bumper bolts are placed on each year)

73 Standard hubcap was the baby moon with the bow tie
74 standard hubcap was the aluminum flat pie pan

the difference is very simple, 73 front bumps have big holes, 74 has small. the rear bump on a 73 is square and blunt a 74 is tapered and round looking to hide the fact that they do stick out more, also 74s have emblems on the hood a deck.

the difference is very simple, 73 front bumps have big holes, 74 has small. the rear bump on a 73 is square and blunt a 74 is tapered and round looking to hide the fact that they do stick out more, also 74s have emblems on the hood a deck.
Were the bumpers on the 74's different because of the impact resistent springs. My 74 has those, but I don't know if the 73's had them.

73s didnt have them, i think thats why more guys make drag car out of 73s, than 74s, The 74' bumpers weigh like 80lbs each! the 74s stick out in the rear more because they needed room for the bumper shocks.

73s didnt have them, i think thats why more guys make drag car out of 73s, than 74s, The 74' bumpers weigh like 80lbs each! the 74s stick out in the rear more because they needed room for the bumper shocks.
Yes they do weigh more :( I found out when I pulled my front bumper off a couple weeks ago:eek: I could not believe the weight.

The bumpers stick out more because the 5mph law was passed. At least i think it was the 5mph but anyways a crash rateing was there for the 74

Here are some differences I can think of (both interior and exterior):

The 73's I have do not have the diagonal engine compartment brace tubes while the 74's I have did have them (they are all factory V8 cars). The ones with the diagonal braces also have a threaded insert on the radiator support that the one tube attaches to.
There is an added stamped steel brace on hatchbacks off of the tower supports for the hatchlid struts on the 74's and not present on the 73's.
The 73's I have (coupe and hatchback) have a center front to rear inner roof support while the 74 hatchbacks I have do not and only have the left to right inner support.
While I would have to look close I believe the floor plugs are different between the 73's and 74's (73's I think just were held in with seam sealers while the 74's had a tab on one end and a lock tab on the other end but still had seam sealer on them to seal up the openings).
The radiator top cap plate is different on the 73's and the 74's (again all of mine have been V8 cars).
The 74's have different outside inner roof structure to hold the retractor for the seat belts while the 73's had a storage slot built into the plastic trim (on my cars that are either coupes or hatchbacks).
The headlners are notched in the 74's to clear the seat belt retractors in the roof.
The 74's have seat belt interlock system while the 73's do not.

Jim