1974 Corvette Specifications

1974 options, quantities and original prices

• A 350 cubic inch, 195 hp engine and a 4-speed manual transmission were included in the base price.
• This was the last year a Corvette could be ordered with a big block. 3,494 cars left the factory with the LS4 454.
• Early 1974 cars have a two-piece rear bumper cover with a seam down the middle, which is the usual way to spot an early build.

1974 engine identification codes

The engine suffix code is stamped on the front of the block, on the pad ahead of the passenger-side cylinder head. Read it together with the VIN to confirm an engine belongs with the car.

Casting and component numbers

• Block: 3970010 (350ci 195 and 250 hp), 3999289 (454ci 270 hp).
• Cylinder head: 333882 (350ci 195 and 250 hp), 336781 (454ci 270 hp).
• Alternator: 1100544 on all cars with air conditioning, 1100950 on all cars without.

The full casting number breakdown per engine, including intake and exhaust manifolds, is on the casting number page, and the carburetor numbers are on the carburetor page.

1974 VIN range

1974 Corvettes ran from 1Z37J4S400001 through 1Z37J4S437502, all built at St. Louis. For convertibles the third digit is a 6. The fifth digit is the engine: J for the 350 at 195 hp, T for the 350 at 250 hp, Z for the 454 at 270 hp. The VIN decoder breaks down each position, and the build date decoder works out roughly when in the year a car was assembled.

1974 production by month

1974 colors

• Which interior trims went with which paint is set out in full on the exterior and interior combination page, along with the trim codes.

1974 axle ratios

The axle code is stamped on the differential carrier housing. The full list for every year is on the axle code page.

What changed for 1974

• The transition to soft bumpers was completed with a body-colour rear cover. The urethane skin had built-in recesses for the licence plate and taillights and covered an aluminium impact bar on two telescopic brackets.
• These were the last Corvettes without catalytic converters. The fuel requirement was 91 octane leaded or low-lead regular.
• Radiators were redesigned for more efficient cooling at low speeds.
• Shoulder belts were integrated with the lap belts, and the locking mechanism changed from a pull-rate type to a swinging-weight type triggered by deceleration.
• The alarm activator moved from the rear panel to the driver-side fender, and the inside rearview mirror grew to ten inches wide.

What the manual covers

The 1974 book runs 95 pages and includes the General Motors 1974 VIN system chart, the vehicle dimensional drawings, the complete vehicle maintenance schedule and the lubrication section.

For part numbers and exploded illustrations rather than specifications, the parts manuals are the companion set. Other model years are on the specification manuals page.