Muscle Truck: 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS
By 1990, the history of the big block Chevrolet was a mere memory. From the streetable LS5 to the legendary LS6 engine available in Corvettes and Chevelles, these high performance torque monsters were long gone from the Chevrolet lineup. In 1990, Chevrolet introduced a specialty truck called the 454 SS in a half ton 4th generation pickup. This model ran from 1990 to 1993 with 16,953 examples produced and 13,748 were sold in 1990. This example is listed here on eBay with one day remaining in the auction. The auction has had 55 bids and the price has risen to $25,100 but the reserve has not been met. The truck is located in West Linn, Oregon.
The 230 horsepower 454 cubic inch V8 engine was borrowed from the one ton series of trucks and mated with a Turbo 400 GM automatic transmission in 1990. In 1991, the engine was improved and offered 255 horsepower and was backed by a 4 speed automatic transmission. The rear end axle was stuffed with a stout 4.10 to 1 ratio. The engine compartment looks very clean and well maintained. The seller represents the truck as rust free and adult owned.
The 454 SS was painted in a monochromatic black design with a red interior. In 1992, Chevrolet offered more choices in paint colors including red and white with optional interior colors (blue, beige and gray). The interior received the Silverado trim with supportive bucket seats. For handling, Chevrolet upgraded the suspension to include Bilstein gas shocks a 1.3 inch front stabilizer bar and 12.7:1 fast ratio steering box.
The 454 SS was a great looking package with red badging and special chrome wheels. The odometer shows just less than 80k miles. Its primary competitor was the Ford SVT Lightening and possibly the 1989 Shelby Dakota. This truck looks to be in great shape and can truly be considered a muscle truck without being too flashy. These trucks have been increasing in value and were capable of 15 second quarter miles.
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Comments
A clean example. GLWTS.
230 HP? Just beat my lawn mower.;o)
I have one. 2,500 miles. I boughtt it from a feller who was holdin on to it as an “investment.” Fellers lady sold it to me last year for one thousand dollars. I don’t know what to do with it soo its sittin’ out in my field 4 now and hass been since I got it. Some cool memorabilla came with the truck in its bed. It has some fancy gold plate signature on the dashboard. Any advice on what to do with itt ?
Bruce,
As far as I know the LS-6 454 450 HP motor was never available in a 70 Corvette. The LS-6 motors were only in Chevelles. Corvette was supposed to get the LS-7 460 HP motor, but according to most Corvette people that was advertised but didn’t happen, maybe because of EPA stuff.
The information I have is the LS-5 454 was the best motor available in a 70 Corvette. I have a friend who has a LS-5 454 Corvette, that’s where my info comes from.
You are right, the LS6 never came in a 1970 Corvette, but it did come in the 1971 Corvette. The author didn’t specify a specific year, just that it was available in those particular models.
Steve R
Thanks Camaro Joe and Steve. That is my understanding. I had a crate LS6 in my 1971 BFG Tirebird from Berger Chevrolet.
Good write up Steve, I wanted one of these really bad when they came out but raising my family prevented the purchase. Later around 2006, I had a shot at a very low mile clean 92 in Florida for 15K which I thought was too steep back then. I know they don’t pack a ton of HP but with some internal engine upgrades they can be very strong. And the menacing look is iconic. I would love to see GM produce a ZL1 version short bed now but it likely won’t happen.
I was working at the Chevy dealer when these came out. Neat truck but I don’t remember anybody saying they were quick, only complaining about the fuel mileage being 10 mpg or less!
Excellent write up, also worth mentioning is the rear end is a strong 14 bolt in both the 3.73 and 4.10 versions. I have a 92 with the engine reworked for 650 hp on pump gas. It is a fun truck and fairly cheap to maintain with all of the GMT-400 parts support.
14 bolt diff came in 3/4-1ton trucks. I don’t believe the SS came in 1/2 ton.
It sure did come with a 14 bolt 9.5 ring gear and pinion. I have a 1993 7.4l chevy silverado 454ss . I done an upgrade on the hp and add 3:73 ring gear and pinion. It is an absolute beast and a pleasure to drive
I had a ’90 with the 3 spd. To much reving for the 454. I had a white ’92 and was a better truck. The last one was a red ’93.The ’92 and ’93 had the 4 spd auto but with 4:10’s still sucked a lot of gas. Drove it everyday and traded it in. Wish I still had that one though
Muscle? With 230HP? More of a poser.
There is such a thing as torque. I’d rather have more of that any day.
This is true.
If the Ford was Lightening it was probably quicker.
A poser….really? Although the SS had 230 HP the torque was 385 ft #. The same year Lightning was only 240 HP with 348 ft # so they were nearly identical with the SS having a slight straight line edge with the more torquey big block. As with any others you wanna compare and line up on Saturday night, it’s all in what you did to them after you drove them off the lot. But the first year SS was nowhere near a poser. The Mustang GT 5,0 was only 225 HP with 300 # of torque. The IROC that year was 245/345.
The SS isn’t fast by any means. I have a 2001 Silverado with a 5.3 and would take it to the local track from time to time for the Wednesday night bracket races and ran 15.30’s stock in the right weather conditions. One night I ran an SS like the one featured above in time runs, the SS was significantly slower, I don’t remember how much slower, but you could see it in the rear view mirror going through the lights. These SS’s were a mainly a decal package, their performance was better than other pick ups of the time, which isn’t anything to brag about. Compared to a 5.0 Mustang, it was no contest, they horsepower rating might have been similar but Mustang had 150 less cubic inches and probably weighed 1,500lbs less.
Steve R
I’m sure that GM fudged the numbers a little bit. If you don’t need a smog check, I’m thinking that swapping the heads and cam you could bring it to an easy 400hp.
Good looking truck and it’s at 32K right now with the reserve met
My best friend’s dad in high school had one of these and they replaced the 454ci with a 502ci. Even swapped the 454 SS decals with 502 SS ones. His dad had MS and they put the truck on airbags and both the accelerator and brake were mounted on the steering column. 3” headers straight piped. I could hear that truck start 2 blocks away in their garage with the door closed.
Bad MF’n truck.
I got my stats from real tests performed by professional drivers from that time, not an experience at Johnny Ray’s Speedway on a Friday night. And if someone wants to claim all trucks were slow back in 1990, pull-up the “specs” on GM’s Cyclone for that year. Have a nice day!
Thank you for the very note worthy comments 😀
These are cool fast trucks & even w low H P 454 ; the engine can be built up higher; tune ups etc not big fan of black but looks good w red accents cool hot rod truck for the right price$?