1990 454 SS

geraldl454 · March 8, 2005

1990 454 SS- I'm looking to purchase this vehicle and would like inform. pretaining to, stock HP?, rearend ratios?, does trans have an overdrive? grade of fuel?etc. red line on engine? tire sizes?

WhiteyZ71 · March 9, 2005

1990 454 SS- I'm looking to purchase this vehicle and would like inform. pretaining to, stock HP?, rearend ratios?, does trans have an overdrive? grade of fuel?etc. red line on engine? tire sizes?

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230hp/385ft-lbs

3 speed auto, no overdrive(changed in '91)

3.73 rear end

The '91's had a bit more power, 255/405, 4 speed od tranny, 4.10s and a rear locker, also better handling

I've wanted one of these things, but never could find one around here for sale in good shape

www.454ss.com has a ton of info

have fun with your new beast

OUMike · March 9, 2005

Hmm...interesting...so does that mean that 350cid Silverados didn't have an OD in 1990 either? What is the trans model for those trucks...Turbo400??

speedde423 · March 9, 2005

I don't know about the 1990 models, but the 89 model had an option for the OD transmission. My 89 has the 4 sp trans with OD, but it was ordered as an option.

SnakeEyeSS · March 10, 2005

Hmm...interesting...so does that mean that 350cid Silverados didn't have an OD in 1990 either? What is the trans model for those trucks...Turbo400??

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no, my 90 350 had a 700-R4

better trans with less power, I don't get it either

Colorado Kid · March 14, 2005

I don't know about the 1990 models, but the 89 model had an option for the OD transmission. My 89 has the 4 sp trans with OD, but it was ordered as an option.

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Simple explanation:

Torque Limit on the TH-700R4 is less than 385 ft-lbs. 1991 marks the introduction of the 4L80-E which the 454SS put to good use.

A 1990 454SS is not a heck of a lot quicker than a 1990 2WD SB with a 350 (200 HP, 300 ft-lbs) and TH-700R4, and with a 5 speed manual the 350 will really give the 454SS a run for the money. The 91 SS is a different story.

mcreyaufmiller · March 15, 2005

they changed the heads to lessen the HP. There was a fear that a RCSB truck with a full 454 would be too fast on the street. To get some real power out of the trucks, change the heads, open the intake and exhaust. More Power, More Power!

SnakeEyeSS · March 15, 2005

I don't know about the 1990 models, but the 89 model had an option for the OD transmission. My 89 has the 4 sp trans with OD, but it was ordered as an option.

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Simple explanation:

Torque Limit on the TH-700R4 is less than 385 ft-lbs. 1991 marks the introduction of the 4L80-E which the 454SS put to good use.

A 1990 454SS is not a heck of a lot quicker than a 1990 2WD SB with a 350 (200 HP, 300 ft-lbs) and TH-700R4, and with a 5 speed manual the 350 will really give the 454SS a run for the money. The 91 SS is a different story.

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oh I guess they were being safe. when I was thinking of SC'ing mine, I talked to a GM Master Mechianic about it, he said the 700-R4 could take 400 HP TQ w/o too much worry.....

and with the chip, the intake bowl, and spacer my truck would really scoot for a TBI 350. (quite a bit more TQ than a Vortec with those mods, like 20-30 FT lb I think)

and I used to have a neigbor with a 70 Z28 with 500HP, it had an 700-R4

Colorado Kid · March 17, 2005

In 1990 GM was covering the truck with a 6 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty . . . your mechanic wasn't promissing that your 700R4 would go that long.

As for your neighbor If his 700R4 was stock when he put it behind his 500 HP motor then it didn't last long. Either that or he has ultra deep rear end gears, so it's impossible to put any real load against the tranny. I think his reaction shell would come apart anyway. Of course there are aftermarket 700R4s built up for the application, but they are $$$$.

greenbuggy · April 11, 2005

Hmm...interesting...so does that mean that 350cid Silverados didn't have an OD in 1990 either? What is the trans model for those trucks...Turbo400??

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In 82-90 you could get a 700r4 Automatic or the TH400 if you got either a 1-ton or a truck with a tow package. 700r4's are crap IMHO, its hard enough to keep them from dying behind a 350, a 454 just accelerates the process.

Btw, want to lose some weight? Try Dr. Kris's 700r4 Diet and excercise plan!

Eat whatever you want, install a 700r4 in your GM car or truck of choice. When you aren't busy pulling the now dead transmission, you'll be busy benchpressing a new one into place, or pushing your ride home because the transmission died.

firemedicntx · June 30, 2005

Ya'll are being to hard on the 'ole 700R4. Yes its true that they had their problems back before 86, but that was fixed by GM by beefing it up a little. The problem was lack of lubrication while in OD and the input and out put shafts were too small. Any of them from 87 and up are basiclly a th400 with alower 1 st and an overdrive. Ive built some very nice 350's with 400 plus torque and hp and bolted them up to the 700R4's without any problems at all. I do use synthetic Tranny fluid (amsoil) and always put an auxillary tranny cooler on, theres no reason not too. I love the way some people will praise the old th350 and th400 but bash the 700R4 when they are the same things essientially. Chevy Transmissions are still the best all round multipurpose trannys Ive seen so far. What would you rather have, a c-6? HAHA what a joke! I have a great setup sitting in my shop right now just waiting for an old chevy truck to go in. Brand new GM '85 HO 350 with the edelbrock performer package with cam and carb, timing gears andl electric accessories bolted to an '87 th700R4 with an rv shift kit, and I'll bet you I dont have a bit of problems. I put a similar package in my wifes suburban with straight out headers. She could smoke the tires all the way down our road keeping your head pinned to the seat until she let off. The other cool thing about the 87 to 92 th700R4's is that no computer is needed for it to work. They are vacum controled and can be used with just about any engine provided you buy the adapter.

So far Ive never had a 700R4 crap out on me. Maybe I just take care of my stuff better. My wifes old 88 suburban had 213K on it when we sold it with the original tranny(700R4). Ive owned chevys, fords, dodge, and a mitsubishi and I havent found a better truck than a GM truck.

90Gmc · July 24, 2005

My 90 has OD but like the one person said if you want OD in a 454 ss I think you have to go 91 Good Luck with the truck

Scyry · July 25, 2005

This post makes me miss my 1990 even more. 5-speed stick, 350, 2WD, Step Side, RC, and 6 years of fun. That little truck really moved. In high school it was the fast truck at the school (of everyone I raced), I had added CAI, throttle body raiser plate, and Flow Masters cat back. 250,000+ miles without any major problems =(

OUMike · July 26, 2005

This post makes me miss my 1990 even more. 5-speed stick, 350, 2WD, Step Side, RC, and 6 years of fun. That little truck really moved. In high school it was the fast truck at the school (of everyone I raced), I had added CAI, throttle body raiser plate, and Flow Masters cat back. 250,000+ miles without any major problems =(

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Its funny how things change. I just graduated in 03' and the "fast truck" was a pair of Ford Lightnings....they were no match for the 02' ZO6 though. Stupid rich schools...

I love my 94' anyhow

Scyry · July 26, 2005

Ya, I had a rich school to...one kid bought Z3 himself another bought an M3...but most of the trucks were 4x4's and lifted. I loved that truck, but wanted a 4x4 here in Colorado and the HD's were the only sticks I could get with a bigger V8, plus they looked great. I like my truck, just wish it had a little less trouble. I mean I beat the piss out of the 90 and no troubles. Probably would of been nicer to it if I had known the RPM's (no tach). Smoked a tiny bit on start up but that was it, even started right up in the mornings after the -10 nights, would slowly build up from 300 rpm, but it would just slowly turn along.

It went places people swore you needed 4x4, forged a river and had water coming in the cab....opps. On the back roads, the speedo stopped at 85, but I ran the line that came out when it disappeared at 85, on around to 50 again, 85 + 50 = 135 ??? On the hilly back roads, I was going fast enough one time that the tires got stuffed all the way up into top of the fenders, at the bottom between two hills, it was just like a roller coaster. With the tonneau cover I had on it, I could feel the back sit down when I was doing 85+, sort of a giant spoiler, made around 10 trips across I-15 and I-70 in Utah and never saw the needle on the speedo. Ya I was a dumb teenager.

Currently considering selling my truck, buy a 1990 to 1995, RCSB, 4x4, 350, stick, and getting a 2006 GTO for a car. Take the truck and just go nuts, super charger, and everything. Or I may keep this guy and get a GTO and trick it out. Either way it will probably be bad for my insurance in the future.