Well, really I shouldnt even ask this because every rumor for the 2k3 Silverado SS had a good engine in them, but alas...

A few people have mentioned the Silverado SS will aucutally become a lightning killer after the first year, or shortly thereafter. Is there any truth to that or is it just wishful thinking?

 

Wishful thinking.............

Unless the GTO has a LS6 or something similar in power this GM guy will become a Blue Oval fan.

 

I've heard on a couple instances here that there will be more power in the Silverado SS later on. But as for now, I don't think GM is ready to make a very fast Silverado SS. Also, I don't think they have the engine right now to make lightning killer.

The only V8's as of right now and next year are the LS1 and the LS6. Even if the LS6 is put inside of the Silverado SS, I don't think it would produce enough power to outdo a Lightning. It would still need at least another 40hp due to the weight of the weight of the extended cab and the AWD equipment. Even so, the LS6 is only used at the Corvette factory. It wouldn't seem profitable to send a small amount of LS6s to the truck plant to be put into the SS. It would seem to be a very out of the way thing to do. Also, I would assume there'd need to be some small changes in the factory somehow to accomodate a few thousand engines in a hundreds of thousands vehicle producing plant. It makes more sense to use an engine inside of the factory already from the Escalade and AWD units from the Silverados already to make a quick solution to the Sport Truck gap until a better solution can be derived.

One thing I've learned from this board about vehicle production is that good stuff cannot usually be created quickly. GM is like a large battleship. If someone falls off of the ship, it takes a few miles for it to turn around to go find that person. By then, they've drowned.

Also, the transmissions and transfer cases of the Silverado, could they handle a 450hp engine? With the parts laying around the Silverado factory, could this be done? I want to know that information before I complain about the underpoweredness of the Silverado SS. If there is no 450 hp engine ready to go, no driveline and transfer case strong enough to handle the power, no extra parts (say an LS6) that can be cheaply be brought there without raising the price of the vehicle too much, and no market for that truck due to the SRT-10 and the Lightning, then complaining about this Silverado SS not being a drag monster is like being being the parent complaining that their one-legged son can't compete in a marathon because you think he should and win that race. If GM doesn't have the parts right now to build a kick *** truck, then they can't simple as that. You have to work around obstacles.

Now that my rant about many topics is over, the later model Silverado SS's.

GM is coming out with a bunch of new high tech engines and new cars to accept these engines. With what I have seen and heard so far, in the next 3 years I will be a very happy man when it comes to GM performance. With these new engines, the Gen IV, and many other things coming down the road, I can see these being piped into the Silverado SS. So give GM one or two more model years and I think we'll see some definite raises in the power figures in that truck.

 

how about a perf tuned 8.1L big block.. Doubt it would happen though... Burmite's got a point about the drivetrain and everything else.. Plus, I don't think GM wants to build a Lightning/SRT-10 killer,but instead a vehicle with a better overall package...... we'll see a guess..

Perhaps a catback/airlid combo that will raise the advertised hp rating another 5-10 hp...

 

The Marine 8.1L V8 is a doge v10 killing motor. Add all the restictions of emmisions and so on and you have a competative package to sell to us GM fans. Oh wait GM dosnt care about getting its act together. Used lightnings are around 22 grand now... It would look kinda silly towing my AMX/Camaro SS

 

 

Who knows. GM is more ahead than people think with this stuff, you know high performance, they just don't use it. They have great technology and could make vehicles to top all the others, but, they just don't. We have seen this with concepts from time to time and drivetrains that aren't being used in a better way. They need to start. Its time to stop being boring and start being cool again and make exciting and impressive cars.

 

Screw waiting for GM to get their crap together, I'm gonna buy a used 1500 short bed regular cab, tear it down, put an LS6 and T56 in her, beef up the drivetrain, RWD only, and badge it SS. I don't think anyone will call me on it.

 

Cheaper to buy a used Lightning, methinks.

 

Naw thats alright, cheaper isn't always better in my book. Not only am I pretty much a chevy man ***** to bones, the lightnings just arent my cup of tea. I like a big ole' NA motor and a manual, not to mention a bowtie on the hood.