1990 454SS Frame/Bed/Cab (Salavage title) Fire. 1/2 Ton Short Box.

[454SSguy]

There are some little "glitches" with some of the SS's. Most have the sport mirrors but early Canadian and even a few us trucks got the dumbos. Also some of the early Canadian and a few early SS trucks didn't get the 110 speedo, but the 85 version. Best way to check to see if it's a real SS is the Vin. The 8th digit will be an "N" to denote it's an original SS truck. Other than that, it can all be swapped and changed and whatnot.

 

[SixSpeedSS]

Takkotime: I hate to call BS on your description of how early 454SS trucks were optioned:

My SS is a pretty early 1990 truck (November or December 1989 IIRC with a very low VIN#) and it has the sport mirrors. I bought my truck Feb 14 1991 (21 years ago this past Tuesday) with 4300 miles on it and know for fact nothing was changed on it (bought on MSO from a dealer - never titled). I have always stayed close to the 454SS trucks and GMT400 trucks in general. I have worked on a ton of them over the years and regularly visit salvage yards. My SS has been down to a bare frame and I completely restored a 1990 K1500 ECLB. I also owned a GMC Typhoon for a short time and you'd be surprised how many people seem to have bad info on the SyTy's of 1991-1993. It was a 'dream' truck for me to own when they were new, but I already had my SS. 10 years later I finally had the chance to own a virgin 1992 Ty in immaculate condition. I'm very glad I never sold my SS to get one. Asisde from how quick they are, they really are a POS compared to the GMT400 platform. Sorry to get off track.

All US 454SS trucks had Sport Mirrors as standard. I cannot speak for the Canadian versions -- never really cared that much to discover the differences. The lesser 'sport' trucks did not come with the Sport mirrors standard. All 454SS trucks had 110mph speedo (without tach in 1990), rear sliding window, cargo light, sport mirrors, AM/FM/Cassette w/equalizer, PW, PL, PS w/tilt, A/C, Buckets/console (specific 454SS seats in 1990 & 1991), and various other 'options' that had to be ordered on lesser trucks. The only option on a 454SS was a locking gas cap. In 1990/1991 Black Onyx with a Dk Carmine interior was the only color choice. IIRC 1992 was available in red or white, but only 1993 was available with a different color interior. I have seen tan, blue, & grey interiors in 454SS trucks over the years. Obviously there was special suspension, wheels, trans, engine, dual exhaust (1991-1993), 14 bolt rear end, etc, etc, but most here know all that.

The sport mirrors also came on a base truck (before the W/T designation was available). I have seen many 1988/1989 trucks with rubber floor mats, vinyl seats, no A/C, AM radio and they also had the 5 spoke wheels (6 inch) and sport mirrors. Most of the ones I have seen were either tan or brown (although have seen blue & maroon) too and were 8ft bed 2wd trucks.

A real SS can be determined by an N in the 8th position (454) and a VIN that starts XGCDC14, whereas X= country of production 1=US. I believe all 454SS trucks were manufactured in the Ft Wayne plant (not certain on Export trucks, so there could be a 2 if Canadian Built. To decipher a GM VIN code it is pretty simple and every 'real' US 454SS should have the first 11 digits: 1GCDC14NxxZ (the 9th digit is a check digit and can be different from truck to truck). The 10th digit will change for each year (mine is L for 1990). The 11th digit is Z for Ft Wayne.

Again, I do not know how Canadian trucks were delivered, so there could be some variance. Obviously the speedo will be different.

It's funny how the info on these trucks get skewed over the years. Imagine how skewed the info is on the musclecars after all these years. For instance, I see tons of people on the Pontiac forums state 'how it was' on these old GTO's, when they are constantly proven wrong by people who have original, unrestored cars that are very well documented.

Me - I build mine how I want and don't really care what people think (and I hope everybody else feels the same).

 

[takkotime]

Takkotime: I hate to call BS on your description of how early 454SS trucks were optioned:

My SS is a pretty early 1990 truck (November or December 1989 IIRC with a very low VIN#) and it has the sport mirrors. I bought my truck Feb 14 1991 (21 years ago this past Tuesday) with 4300 miles on it and know for fact nothing was changed on it (bought on MSO from a dealer - never titled). I have always stayed close to the 454SS trucks and GMT400 trucks in general. I have worked on a ton of them over the years and regularly visit salvage yards. My SS has been down to a bare frame and I completely restored a 1990 K1500 ECLB. I also owned a GMC Typhoon for a short time and you'd be surprised how many people seem to have bad info on the SyTy's of 1991-1993. It was a 'dream' truck for me to own when they were new, but I already had my SS. 10 years later I finally had the chance to own a virgin 1992 Ty in immaculate condition. I'm very glad I never sold my SS to get one. Asisde from how quick they are, they really are a POS compared to the GMT400 platform. Sorry to get off track.

All US 454SS trucks had Sport Mirrors as standard. I cannot speak for the Canadian versions -- never really cared that much to discover the differences. The lesser 'sport' trucks did not come with the Sport mirrors standard. All 454SS trucks had 110mph speedo (without tach in 1990), rear sliding window, cargo light, sport mirrors, AM/FM/Cassette w/equalizer, PW, PL, PS w/tilt, A/C, Buckets/console (specific 454SS seats in 1990 & 1991), and various other 'options' that had to be ordered on lesser trucks. The only option on a 454SS was a locking gas cap. In 1990/1991 Black Onyx with a Dk Carmine interior was the only color choice. IIRC 1992 was available in red or white, but only 1993 was available with a different color interior. I have seen tan, blue, & grey interiors in 454SS trucks over the years. Obviously there was special suspension, wheels, trans, engine, dual exhaust (1991-1993), 14 bolt rear end, etc, etc, but most here know all that.

The sport mirrors also came on a base truck (before the W/T designation was available). I have seen many 1988/1989 trucks with rubber floor mats, vinyl seats, no A/C, AM radio and they also had the 5 spoke wheels (6 inch) and sport mirrors. Most of the ones I have seen were either tan or brown (although have seen blue & maroon) too and were 8ft bed 2wd trucks.

A real SS can be determined by an N in the 8th position (454) and a VIN that starts XGCDC14, whereas X= country of production 1=US. I believe all 454SS trucks were manufactured in the Ft Wayne plant (not certain on Export trucks, so there could be a 2 if Canadian Built. To decipher a GM VIN code it is pretty simple and every 'real' US 454SS should have the first 11 digits: 1GCDC14NxxZ (the 9th digit is a check digit and can be different from truck to truck). The 10th digit will change for each year (mine is L for 1990). The 11th digit is Z for Ft Wayne.

Again, I do not know how Canadian trucks were delivered, so there could be some variance. Obviously the speedo will be different.

It's funny how the info on these trucks get skewed over the years. Imagine how skewed the info is on the musclecars after all these years. For instance, I see tons of people on the Pontiac forums state 'how it was' on these old GTO's, when they are constantly proven wrong by people who have original, unrestored cars that are very well documented.

Me - I build mine how I want and don't really care what people think (and I hope everybody else feels the same).

You're preaching to the choir here.
I have a ton of experience with the platform as well. I own 3 454ss's too.
I have gone to the US more than once and sat inside 1990 ss's that lacked the proper guage cluster and had dumbos and the smooth steering wheel with the 'N' vin.
My own 90 is a Canadian version that has the block heater, daytime running lights and 'wrong' cluster . I paid vintage services for the printout on mine and have for others, I'm not sure about how it works down there but it's about $100 here to find out the rpo's, selling dealer, etc.
Some 454ss's have cargo lights some don't. Some came with floormats some did not. There were more variations than just the locking gas cap, although all of the base options were always the same.
My sport truck came with the little mirrors from the factory floor. My 93ss's did too.
I agree with the misinformation that gets bandied about - I've wasted way too much of my life on the life and history of this platform.
But don't tell me I don't know how to identify these vehicles. I've grown up with them and worked on them since they came out.

 

[mancarri123]

sale you truck for me

Here is the vin.

You must be registered for see images attach

I am keeping the drive train. The rest of the truck is for sale (with title).

Here are pictures of the truck. Doors still open. But its burned up good.


http://s1089.photobucket.com/albums/i360/lacraigslistmechanic/Burned 454SS/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ24


$500.00 you come pick it up? Los Angeles area.

one question do have the rear end axel ?

 

[eric.s.t]

Just want to through my 2cents on the mirror situation... i bought my truck from my uncle which was the second owner of the truck. The original owner LOVED the truck, to the point he had a chrome spare rim with matching tires so he can rotate even the spare.... (i dont htink the other ss and SPORTS has the chrome spare, did they?) but anyways, it was bone stock when my uncle had it, its a 1990 Sport, it had the dumbo mirrios... no sport mirrors on this one...

 

[MOBS]

Most likely, it's just as I always say........GM prolly said "eeny meeny miney moe" and threw random parts at different vehicles. Lots of manufacturers put random parts on new vehicles being released to get positive/negative feedback to see what combo of stuff is most popular(sells best). For those who have worked on gmt400s all your life, how many of you have seen 110mph speedos on 95-98 models?

 

[SixSpeedSS]

Just want to through my 2cents on the mirror situation... i bought my truck from my uncle which was the second owner of the truck. The original owner LOVED the truck, to the point he had a chrome spare rim with matching tires so he can rotate even the spare.... (i dont htink the other ss and SPORTS has the chrome spare, did they?) but anyways, it was bone stock when my uncle had it, its a 1990 Sport, it had the dumbo mirrios... no sport mirrors on this one...

Mine had a chrome spare and it is still brand new never on the truck. Has a perfect Comp T/A +4 with all the little teets still on it.

Sport trucks had dumbo mirrors. 454SS trucks did not. One of my friends bought a new 1991 305 powered Red Sport about the same time I bought my truck (1991). His had dumbo mirrors.