is an ss454 worth it?

[JeRM82]

what do you guys think about building up a CARB legal (with EO numbered parrts), SS454 1500? They camwe with a TH400 in 1990 and then a 4L80 I THINK after that with 4:10 gears and limited slip. I was looking at one the other day for about 10K and it was pretty clean. What do you guys think about doing that edelbrock MPFI set up and their CARB legal heads and cam package on that? think it would be worth it or should I just do the small block regular cab short bed with the same MPFI conversion with the CARB legal heads and cam swap.......the only disadvantages I can see are insurance, and gas...the gas would MURDER my wallet....but I would smile with EVERY CUP-O-NOODLES dinner I would have to eat to feed the truck...ha ha....just somethingt I was looking at...all I saw on a ss454 web site was trucks that MOVED, and some good set-ups that couldnt run for shit...IE....15's in a truck that ran 15's from the factory, with 2K's worth of mods...whats up with THAT? HA HA

[Hit Man X]

You have any idea how much it'd cost ya to get it to run well?

That MPFI setup is $$$. A GOOD set of heads like a set of AFRs are ~$2000+. Then you've got a 3 speed auto...LOL there goes ANY fuel economy a BBC could provide. You'll need a real cam to feed it too. A GearVendors OD is ~$2500. I do not think the SS454 trucks ever came with a 4L80E.

Those stock heads are the worst apparently I've heard that came on a BBC. TBI sucks for performance also.

I'd maybe consider one as a 2nd vehicle but dropping $10K on an old 1990 model vehicle is silly to me. You could just build your own for far less...

[farmtruc]

Depends what you're looking for, if it's performance then there are other routes. The 454ss in that day was a dog! I'm sure it has potential, but you'll be dumping lots of money into it.
If you like the looks, get a '91 reg cab, drop it, put fat tires on it, etc., make it look similar and for much less. You could probably get a nice '91 reg cab for under 2k$. Then, throw that 383 torquer from GM parts in there and you'll have a lot more power and run a lot quicker than a 454ss.
Just my opinion, I know there's the thing about owning a 454ss, they look tuff, but aren't performers at all.

Even with my truck getting 20mpg+ (when i'm not on it, haha), it still sux to fill it up, I'm actually considering an econo car, maybe a cavalier or something just to drive back and forth , then i'll have the time to mod the truck.

good luck,

allen

[GMCwantsLS1]

I hear those GTO's get good milage!

[JeRM82]

thatss true....the truck WAS a dog...it was slow....BUT I didnt know much about them other than the numbers and what I saw on that truck I was looking at. I'm PROBRABLY just gonna stick with a RCSB TBI 1500 that falls under the years for that CARB legal MPFI, heads and cam kit..I keep seeing ones for around $5K that are pretty clean, and arren't step side.....I think I could dip into the 14's with that set-up from edelbrock, with some cash thrown into the rear end, and a power programer (if it has a 4L60...I dont think it would do that much for a truck that didnt have a computer controled tranny, it would only do stuff with rev limiter/top speed limiter.....fuel curve too....MAYBE...I dunno..not an expert)........what do you guys think....you guys know anyone with this set up on a TBI short bed?

[JeRM82]

that MPFI is only a grand from summit....the whole set-up for a small block is only about $1700 and all the labor would be done in my garage/husband safe house...ha ha...just kidding....not bad...what do you think...maybe a rebuild kit for it while I have it apart.....WELL....I wouldnt need to take the whole motor out for just heads...but maybe get a rebuild kit just so I dont havee to worry about anything taking a shit at full tilt and ventalating the block.

[blown02]

my buddy had one with a procharger it was great for burnouts other then that they sucked. theyed light up the tires for days though

[ramjet502]

I had a 1993 Red 454 SS 4L80E 4.10 gears did all the normal mods headers chip cat back air intake pulleys etc. The day I bought my 2000 Silverado 5.3 auto w/ 3.42 gears we raced the two trucks the 2000 completey walked away from it. It would take a lot of money and time to make it run like I would have wanted it to. So I sold it. But they are neat trucks because of the big block gears and trans. I saw one Ebay recently rolling no motor or trans for like 3 grand that would be the way to go then put your own powertrain in it RAMJET502.

[hog]

The 1991-93 454 SS trucks came with 4.10 14 bolt rear and the 4l80e with 255hp and 405 torque, with a revised inatke manifold and cats over the 90 model.
The 1990 454SS came with the 14bolt rear with 3.73 gears and the 400 or 3l80e with 230hp and 385 torque.

mr 1997 regcab short box Vortec 350 came with 3.08 open 10 bolt rear 4l60e and 255hp with 335lbft of torque, when I installed my 4.10 gears it would beat any stock SS truck I raced. They have more torque but I am much lighter, lighter engine, rearend and trans and I have no rear antiroll bar. 4000lbs no driver 4215 with me.
The SS's are nice trucks, GMPP has a 502 retro kit that supplies everything to develop 338SAE net hp and 512 lb/ft of torque. GMPP also make s a cam just for the SS 454 trucks. It says it will lose a little bottom end but makes up for it on the top end and actaully helps with traction.
Hog

[jobberone]

I have a 454 I'd like to sell which is very streetable but will not give you gas mileage. 454 not gas efficient whatever, whoever, whenever.

I have a stock marine block but with 65 396 heads with 98 cc chambers to bump the CR to about 9.5. It's got a nice cam with 1.8 rockers and a 750 single pumper over an Air Gap. You'd get a little better response and mileage with a demon.

But that would bump a truck up there. You'd have to sell your 454 which I wouldn't do out of a 454SS on general princple. You could easily modify that engine though.

Cheapest thing to do if you're dying for it is to buy it, pull the motor and check the bottom end fixing any problems. The cast crank, 2 bolts and mains are fine if all checks out. It doesn't matter if its 4 bolt with a steel crank. The rods are the weak link. Resize the rods if they are at least HD. If not use 4140 I Beams with ARP bolts pressed on. Use hyper pistons to get you 9.5+ and use oval port open chambered heads at about 118 ccs. 049s are costly so there are other alternatives. You don't need aluminum so $500+ is enough for the heads. Use something equivalent to a Summit 1303 and use 1.7 roller rockers without needle bearings and 3/8s pushrods. You can increase your effective lift later if necessary with 1.75s or 1.8s. Make sure the springs are good to 6200. Don't port anything but do put big valves in. Stainless but not sodium filled..just good ones. Use good retainers. Use at least a performer rpm and a demon 750--780 is best but a 750 single pumper is fine. That's 450+HP and 500+torque and will last a long time. Put a rev limiter on it at 6000 better 5800. An 80E will get you better mileage. Better yet a 6 speed manual with 5th around .5 and 6th as low as they go. Rear end 2.73 with posi. You'll have enough torque to have good 60s and it'll save your tires and get you good mileage on the road.

That is how I'd build a 454 for me for the street as a DD.

If you want something most powerful then I'd be glad to tell you what I'd do but pull out your other wallet. PM me and we can chat if you like. But there are many ways to skin the cat. I'm sure there are a lot of opinions out there.

Good luck.