90 454SS vs 94 Lightning - TrucksTV

[Sierra H/O]

I was looking at STS Turbo's website, and it says they are going to install a universal kit on Trucks, on April 5th. I wonder if it will be on one of these two trucks.

[Red94Chev]

Originally Posted by Sierra H/O

If you look at the 2nd link, it says show products under the picture of the Truck's shop. The 1st one listed is Edelbrock-Pro Flo EFI.

Yeah, I saw that. Maybe "big carb" means EFI to whoever does their website.

[Red94Chev]

Originally Posted by Sierra H/O

I was looking at STS Turbo's website, and it says they are going to install a universal kit on Trucks, on April 5th. I wonder if it will be on one of these two trucks.

Apparently, the first three shows are dedicated to these trucks and then two more later in the season. Kevin, on of the Trucks TV hosts, is a member of the National Lightning Owners Club and has been commenting on the show on their forum: http://www.vlot.net. Courtney during her introduction to Powerblock commented on a "supercharged Lightning". Spilling the beans...

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Red94Chev

Apparently, the first three shows are dedicated to these trucks and then two more later in the season. Kevin, on of the Trucks TV hosts, is a member of the National Lightning Owners Club and has been commenting on the show on their forum: http://www.vlot.net. Courtney during her introduction to Powerblock commented on a "supercharged Lightning". Spilling the beans...

rigged.... typical.

just like pinks all out. *sigh*

[Red94Chev]

This was posted at the 454SS site:

Hey Guys, Kevin from TRUCKS! here... this is exactly the kind of debate we wanted to start....big block VS. small, TQ VS.HP, Ford VS. Chebby, a few years of technology VS. tried and true brute force & strong components ( T-400 & 454) I can tell you this honestly...... We are NOT biased in any direction, and the condition of the trucks was luck of the draw. We are telling the truth with each truck, and the numbers don't lie. We had a budget of about 6K for each, and that's what Ebay had to offer. I personally have gravitated to vintage Fords more than any other marque, but I also own a Chevy Truck and a 93 Vette as well as my Gen 1 HD/Lightning crossbreed and a clapped out '66 Stang with big hopes and dreams attached.. I like em all! So does Ryan, but we each have a personal leaning one way or another, so we went with it. I'm glad the Gen 1 L guy cam here and set the record straight on the naturally aspirated stock status of both trucks, and BOTH TRUCKS came really really close to each other on the dyno, and BOTH TRUCKS were very close to what the factory claimed bone stock. The basis of our contest and comparison is just measuring what we bought. The fun part starts now! I remember reading a tech article in Car Craft years ago where they took the factory de-tuned & choked down 454 out of a 82 CHevy Truck did a simple swap and doubled the HP simply by letting it breath! That, my friends is HUGE gains for not so much $$$........... but you already know that. You'll have to wait to see what Ryan does to his truck next week, but I think you'll like it. The mods dont stop with the engine either, this whole season, which just started this weekend, will be peppered with these two trucks showing up.

Thanks for watching, thanks for giving us a chance to represent both camps, and thanks for giving us the feedback we need to make better shows!

See ya soon.


KT.

[Steveo87]

just trying to think about this, on the powerblock site its say 1990 454 SS as the heading for this weekends show. so i would would assume that next weekend would be the lightning and since the STS site say April 5th and 6th, my guess would be lightning + STS = some pretty good power.

[oldred95]

Maybe its piston limitation but 8.x:1 is not "high compression" by any means. Its a sport truck, probably never see a trailer so why not get the compression up around 10:1 at least? That and using a single 3 inch exhaust are the only two real problems I've seen. No reason why a single 4 inch exhaust couldn't and shouldn't be used.

[cancritter]

just caught it as well...8.1 seems low to me as well mind ya l know nada about bbs but it seems low..heads,intake,cam and only 8-1?
anyway shows over,,,down to the dungeon to work on the 91 :O)
as for those with nice big gradges and no nieghbours to complain,,,count yer blessins:O)

[dimerunner88]

i believe they went 8:1 for fuel cost issues for the viewers

[Bens95cobra8594]

I think part of the selection process for the parts comes down to what your average Joe can do in his garage/driveway...

It's one of the best-thought out show concepts I have seen on Trucks.

[oldred95]

Originally Posted by dimerunner88

i believe they went 8:1 for fuel cost issues for the viewers

With aluminum heads you can run higher compression with lower grade fuel. You could run 87 octane on 8:1 without any issues.

[Red94Chev]

Yeah, engine compression will be 8.8:1 with that combo. Not exactly "high compression", but better than stock. Low compression was yet another reason for the low performance numbers of the stock engine.

Just for kicks, I took the specs off the Edelbrock website for the camshaft (EDL-2262), Pro-Flo EFI set-up (EDL-3551), and cylinder heads (60499) and put them in DD2003. Edelbrock lists specs and head flow data for all their cylinder heads (http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...ds/specs.shtml).

The predicted power output at the flywheel:

448 hp at 5500 RPM and 470 ft-lbs at 4500 RPM. Still over 400 ft-lbs at 2000 RPM.



Chassis-dyno numbers at the rear wheels should be around 350 rwhp/370 ft-lbs. Can't wait to see what forced induction is going to do to that Lightning.

[GreaseDog]

you guys questioning the 8.8:1 compression on the 454... did you notice they didnt take the shortblock apart? they're using STOCK pistons and smaller chambered heads to up the compression from IIRC what they claimed to be a stock 7.75:1 SCR.

[rob]

I think the 454ss will have the upper hand assuming the junk the boat-anchor heads, intake, and worthless camshaft for something that is actually worth a damn.

hell, just a production vortec454 would be light-years ahead of the TBI-turd they start with. and would probably be the most economical thing to do to one.

7.X:1 compression? I think my 5hp briggs&stratton has a higher CR than that!

imagine what the 454ss would have become had they extended the production to the '96 model year, when GM got their head out of their ass about truck motors.. even with emissions and gas prices, a RCSB 2wd vortec 454"ss" truck. dealers would NEVER be able to keep them on the lot!

[oldred95]

Maybe its just me but anything less then 500 ft lbs from a big block just seems like a waste of time.

[TikiClub2]

Ford is getting forced induction... goodbye chevy!

[GIMECHANIC_454]

damn this sucks this seems like this is gona be an interesting build and I am stuck in Iraq with AFN (Armed Forces Network, goverment brain washing at its finest) the problem i have with AFN is they dont show any of these cool car/truck programs..anyway i have the internet and the FSC forums to keep me updated..

[scotte]

imo its kind of a crummy comparison

the lightning was a small block sport truck w/ decent heads intake headers)
(i own a 94 (stock exept for k&n,underdrives,efan low 15's w/ a 350lb driver)

the 454ss was big block truck w/ crappy heads intake

the problem is that bolton for bolton the lightning has the 454ss imho

as soon as you replace the heads and induction problems on the 454ss its gonna be way out in front again imho

the truth is that chevy could have made a faster truck back in the day by producing a 350ss

they could have put a lt1 in a rcsb truck w/ 4.11 gears and be done with it

i'm not trying to start a chevy vs ford flame war


p.s my chevys much funner in the snow :)

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by Sbc_inside

Well if they are not limited to any budget.....



thats all i got to say.

Hah, that's exactly what I'm doing with my old 90 SS. New 572 BBC crate motor with a Procharger, new Phoenix 4l80E tranny, new Moser 12 bolt rear end with 4:11's and 33 spline axles...

It should romp the block pretty good as soon as I have time to assemble all these parts into the truck instead of just having them sit in a pile in the corner of my shop.

I do have to say though, these 454SS trucks have a ton of potential. With a cam and head swap, becool radiator, highflow catalytic convertor (check your local laws about how to go about replacing the cats on your vehicles) and a few random tweaks here and there, you can get those 454SS pickups rocking in the high 12's really easily.

To add to that previous argument; yes there was a non electric version of the old 4L80 transmission. It was basically the TH700R4 of that tranny and didn't last long. I think it was available in the diesel pickups, and trucks that came stock with a big block after 1990.

[GreaseDog]

Originally Posted by Tristan

To add to that previous argument; yes there was a non electric version of the old 4L80 transmission. It was basically the TH700R4 of that tranny and didn't last long. I think it was available in the diesel pickups, and trucks that came stock with a big block after 1990.

proof of said trans? i havent been able to locate ANY service parts, not even a pan gasket and filter kit for it.

as for them being produced in diesel trucks and big block trucks after 1990... considering 1991 is after 1990, and the 4L80E debuted in 1991, there is a bit of truth in what you say, but it is very little. gas powered 80E equipped trucks used a harness integrated into the TBI harness, where diesel trucks use the super rare, highly desirable standalone controller.