Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I’ve been on the lookout for a 454SS for quite some time now. Not many come up for sale here in Alaska, and the rare ones that do? Let’s just say they’re not worth their asking price. Anyway, I stumbled into a deal that was too good to pass up: I picked up this 96-98 Chevy SCSB 2WD today for $100! It’s obviously missing a few parts, but the chassis is extremely clean, and the cab and doors actually turned out to be in good shape as well.
The plan is to make it a realistically close clone to a 454SS, but do the upgrades that Chevy should’ve done originally! I planned on a cab swap initially, but this one is clean, so I may slightly deviate with a 96+ interior, but stay with the red interior like the originals had. The rear axle will be a 2WD 14 bolt from a light duty 3/4 ton, which I will order the correct 454SS axle shafts for. As for the powertrain, I traded a 1999 Astro Van that I’ve been using as a storage unit, for a Gen VI Vortec 454 and 4L80E. The transmission will be converted to 2WD. The 454 has a rod knock, so it will get a forged rotating assembly, head studs, MLS gaskets, possibly a cam, and I would like to either convert to a 411 PCM or go with an aftermarket EFI controller such as the Terminator X or HP EFI, and boost it with a single turbo. I think 600HP, possibly even 600RWHP, should be easily obtainable at around 8 psi with this setup, which is really a stupid amount of power in a truck this light, while also keeping some semblance of reliability and allow it to stay on pump gas. https://i.postimg.cc/Wz7cHqgZ/D49-B8...3-FF6-C954.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/66VK3ggQ/550-F9...84552-B715.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Looking forward to your build
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Looks like fun!!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Thanks guys!
I spent the previous day cleaning out the Astro Van and getting it delivered to the new owner, and spent today getting the 454 and 4L80E completely prepped to pull in the morning! Gotta love doing this outside in the dirt :lol: Front end parts removed for easier access. https://i.postimg.cc/SRRxY4MM/9-A76-...DA27-B2320.jpg I’m taking the core support as well, since I can’t remember if the 454 was different or if they’re all the same. https://i.postimg.cc/wx4v81Cc/F93264...4-C5-F7-A3.jpg Engine is ready for removal! https://i.postimg.cc/5NZ2yZNX/70-E7-...D8581-EB72.jpg Transmission is also dropped and ready to slide out! https://i.postimg.cc/MGwZbVBx/26-E4-...-B1-D01837.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Initially, I also wanted to make this as close to a real looking original 454SS as possible. However, with the 96+ cab and interior, and 96+ engine, I thought, why not build the 454SS Chevy could have built if they had kept making them into the 96+ trucks, and add the 96+ grille as well? It would be a subtle exterior change, and match the rest of the same model year parts. What’s everyone’s opinion? Stick with the 88-93 flat grille, or build a 96+ 454SS?
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
96+
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
96+ 454 sounds like the way to go for me.
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Leaning that way for sure. I found a few close images with blacked out newer front grilles. I would stick with the amber side markers, red Chevy Sport emblem, and impact strips as they originally came, but these pictures are pretty close to what it would be and I’m definitely liking it!
This first picture is the closest! Even if I had to draw the emblem in :lol: https://i.postimg.cc/8PgmrdBw/D7-E01...85-CCA6526.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/ncd8dWP3/018756...FD48-ABF24.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/K846CNXx/EFDBDD...E35-A67104.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/t4fKbxyP/39-D94...2-B91-CD48.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I checked the data tag, and the Suburban that this is all coming from is a 1999! Pretty neat to be one of the later years. I still need to determine the actual year of the truck itself :lol:
So with everything ready from last night, this morning went pretty smooth and the engine and transmission came right out! https://i.postimg.cc/Pqnp5hGq/5-E170...AAE83926-B.jpg Loaded in the back of the truck https://i.postimg.cc/hjpfsdXJ/A10-C2...-DBB7-F0-A.jpg Transmission is out! https://i.postimg.cc/5yyjR2zs/7951-D...117-AA7248.jpg And the total haul for the day. I ended up grabbing the entire inside/outside harness, hydroboost unit and pedal, and the heater box since I couldn’t remember if mine was intact. https://i.postimg.cc/prSybMYR/C02-DB...E3-F908-A0.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Tagging along to watch the build.
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
My daughter (who has grown much taller since my avatar pic) wants to do something similar for her first truck. Can’t wait to see yours come together!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Bought an upgraded engine stand since a Big Block now exists in my shop, and I don’t put much trust the cheapo stands. The gear drive head is amazing, I should’ve invested in one of these years ago.
https://i.postimg.cc/sxWyLc7x/CC0644...4-BD50-E18.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/h4QShS6n/5-A9-D...09568159-D.jpg Here’s the real tell - difference in arm size between the standard and new arms! https://i.postimg.cc/m2xTHvWH/840-DD...7-B4579065.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I got a chance to inspect the VIN today, and it looks like I have a 1997! I also threw the 454 up on the stand today, and again I can’t emphasize just how nice this crank is! Spins over a full iron BBC like it’s nothing! I pulled the water pump, balancer, timing cover, and oil pan to check out the crank.
https://i.postimg.cc/9QWXX0Sf/B1-DB7...0-F5-BFC44.jpg Sure enough, #1 is loose. https://i.postimg.cc/x1tfXYD3/5-B836...3-B5-D1073.jpg I also extracted a broken oil cooler line fitting from the block. https://i.postimg.cc/43yJtMXk/80-DB5...-EC88-C795.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I made a huge score today! I had found a light duty (6 lug) 2WD 14 bolt rear axle locally, and had planned on pulling it this weekend. I figured I can get custom shafts made for it to convert it to the correct 5 lug. However, today, THIS popped up on Marketplace, and I couldn’t get down there fast enough! A REAL 454SS rear axle! Not only that, but the seller told me it was pulled (along with the engine and transmission) at 40k miles for a twin turbo 5.3L build! To top the deal off, he let it go for only $200!!
https://i.postimg.cc/bwJMKb60/933219...-F2454-C81.jpg Proof of the real deal! https://i.postimg.cc/vmnPsv5n/F04-C0...7434072997.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Awesome!!!!!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Thank you!
I scored again today, I snagged a pair of perfect condition front fenders on a Suburban sitting about 20 feet away from the 454 donor Suburban, for $150! https://i.postimg.cc/5NWQVbq7/C1-BEC...3-F51-CCAD.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
This is a great idea. This will be even better than one of the original ones with the updated vortec motor - let alone forged internals. I think doing a tribute truck rather than trying to replicate an original is a good idea. I like seeing grills and such that are original to the year of the body. You could even use Plasti dip and leave the original grill finish intact underneath. I liked the drawn in bowtie, haha. Have you seen the thread on here about building an SS454 the way Chevy should have done it? There are some great ideas on nabbing some factory upgrades.
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I probably haven’t, do you have a link? I’m always up for checking out ideas.
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Alright, it’s been like 3 days since I’ve bought anything and I needed my fix, so I found a verrrrry interesting pair of 454 valve covers for $120 shipped! Does anyone recognize these? In case you’re not aware, the L29 (your typical Gen VI Vortec 454) had a fairly unknown twin, the L21, which came in the medium duty chassis trucks for a short period. These 454’s came with some interesting LS-like features, such as a 24x reluctor wheel instead of the typical 4x, coil-near-plug system including the unique valve covers, and a capped, gutted distributor for the 1x cam signal. It ran off an early 97-98 LS1 PCM. Pretty interesting and rare setup!
https://i.postimg.cc/Dzqvjz7T/B30-EA...DB277-B0-B.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/gJmYfP06/E8-DD2...EC61-CF707.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/ydjVKrJp/86-C81...38-B55-EB2.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/VvNzkBnf/055-B2...C5426-AC74.jpg And this is the L21 in the wild. Note the staggered coil mounting under the throttle body for clearance, which differs from the 8.1L. https://i.postimg.cc/d3Swkkj8/CA17-C...76765-D976.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/Vs7YHpPd/8-CE99...BFEC84-CBD.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Quote:
Use GM's 454 concept & build it to suit your wants while still keeping the styling/heritage of the original in spirit. Be the engineer that doesn't have to worry about someone from corporate looking over his shoulder while basically checking all the option boxes he thought would make a 'cool' truck. OE LS era reliability w/brute power. |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
That’s what I’m thinking, build it like a GM engineer with a little more free reign! :lol:
Might be picking up a red interior tomorrow. Fingers crossed! |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I threw the new front fenders on the truck just to be able to have them stored safely for now. Plus, it’s looking less and less like a parts truck!
https://i.postimg.cc/ZYjhxMpR/585171...3614270-CC.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/1zxxzhhW/338-AC...EC70751621.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
I want to see more of what's behind the truck. :D
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Nice. Yea, I always wanted one of those.
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Looks to be a Malibu hiding there as well.......
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Thanks. Kind of torn on the ‘57. I’ve always wanted one too but it’s one of those things I make time for everything else first. I definitely need more shop space.
The Malibu is an ‘81, that was a pretty fun driver. I sold it last year. This is what it looked like when I found it literally sitting in the woods. Paid $100 https://i.postimg.cc/65HW3C3s/70-C93...-BF3-D59-F.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/mgtbFhzP/CA002-...3832-E0144.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/PqjwgCSL/IMG-1507-1.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/43Q9sX0W/IMG-1508-1.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/ZYCc59h9/IMG-1514-1.jpg And this is what it looked like when I sold it. There was a LOT of cleaning involved: https://i.postimg.cc/bJkNtFMj/8903-A...A82-C3-F39.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/9XGSLjWY/IMG-1687-1.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/L5MWmxVP/IMG-1686-1.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
That Malibu looked very nice vs what you started with. Lot of scrubbing there!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Thanks! I actually ended up replacing the entire dash and front seat on that one. Everything else cleaned up pretty well. It had a 267ci engine with a TH350. It got a carb rebuild, new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and ignition module (module failing when hot was why it was parked for 18 years!). Changed all the fluids, new brake booster, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, shoes, drums, and hardware kit was all it took to get it going. It ran like it never missed a day on the road!
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Sounds like many old sbc's. A little love goes a long way.
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Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Hmm…might take some massaging, but I think it’ll fit!
https://i.postimg.cc/ZY7rKztd/419-AB...-DAABDE560.jpg |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Quote:
Did you see the 454ss on the anchorage copart auction? looked pretty complete minus a grill and needing a new door, it was listed as fire damage. I think it sold for $6500 |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Yeah, 2004 or 2005 I believe. I think if I trim off those upper mounts and remove the two sheet metal uprights on the core support, it’ll fit pretty well.
I did see that one, but only after it sold. I wouldn’t have paid $6500 for as badly damaged as it was. |
Re: Can’t find a 454SS, so I’m building my own!
Anything new with this or your other OBS projects? Just wondered if the guy in Alaska who seems to find all the good deals is getting time on his trucks.
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