SILVERADO SS – THE CORVETTE OF TRUCKS

LAS VEGAS - High-performance vehicles such as the Chevrolet Corvette are revered for their awesome power and precision handling. Pickup trucks such as Silverado, on the other hand, are admired for their ability to carry both passengers and cargo efficiently and dependably on any road surface or off-road. Combining the best aspects of both vehicles, Chevrolet introduces the Silverado SS – The Corvette of Trucks – at this year’s SEMA show, the latest iteration of the original SS show truck.

"The first SS Silverado created an awareness and understanding of the performance limits of a pickup—this SS takes it to the next level," said John C. Farris Jr., Chevy Silverado assistant brand manager-marketing.

This four-passenger, four-door pickup is powered by a 6.6-liter, overhead valve (OHV) aluminum LS1 V8 engine that produces 480 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 475 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a short-throw, six-speed, rear-mounted manual transmission – the same transmission found in Corvette models. Helping to hit that unique Corvette exhaust note are ceramic-coated, stainless steel, tubular, four-into-one headers with 1 ¾-inch primaries and 3-inch collectors. Dual 3-inch exhaust system, dual 3-inch inlet and dual 3-inch outlet muffler and aluminum exhaust tips complete the exhaust system.

Any performance vehicle must also reward the driver with precise "ride on rails" handling, and Silverado SS is no exception. It features four-wheel independent short- and long-arm (SLA) suspension and adjustable front and rear air ride suspension that allows the driver to vary the ride height to best suit the situation – lower for highway cruising or higher for greater clearance. Power rack-and-pinion steering ensures precise steering and four-wheel disc brakes featuring 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear provide sure, safe stops. Antilock brakes are also standard on this vehicle.

Inside, Silverado SS rewards driver and passengers with a number of features that even make Corvette owners envious, beginning with the ability to share SS performance and handling attributes with more passengers. Four bucket seats with carbon fiber inserts create a comfortable and luxurious environment. A blue electroluminescent instrument cluster lends a "floating" appearance to the speedometer, tachometer, engine temperature and oil pressure gauges. A new in-dash information screen, meanwhile, provides suspension and performance information. Four-point, cam-lock safety harnesses enhance passenger safety and a Corvette steering wheel with a custom logo reinforces the SS’s connection to the American icon.

Seen from the exterior, it’s clearly evident that the redder-than-red SS is no ordinary Silverado; its performance cues are evident from any angle. Up front, SS features a molded front fascia with integrated brake-cooling ducts, a new front grille with integrated Chevy Bow Tie and projector beam headlamp assemblies. The domed hood is made of a carbon fiber material and the cowl has been raised 2.5 inches, creating a flowing appearance. The composite front fenders with integrated wheel flares accentuate the performance element of this vehicle and house the nickel-plated wheels (20" front, 22" rear) and custom Goodyear tires. Integrated rocker panels on the lower bodyside further accent the Silverado SS’s "ready to pounce" appearance.

Also unique to the Silverado SS is the integration of the cab and pickup box. Gone is the normal space between those two body parts. The smooth molded one-piece appearance is refined, dramatic, and an instant classic.

Silverado SS

Configuration:

- Four-passenger, quad-door, ½-ton pickup truck

- Front engine, rear wheel drive

- 133.0 in wheelbase

- 62.2 in front track, 62.0 in rear track

- 5000 lbs total weight - 2600 lbs front weight (52.0%) / 2400 lbs rear weight (48.0%)

Drivetrain:

- 6.6l ohv aluminum LS1 V8 engine

- Peak torque: 475 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm

- Peak power: 480 hp @ 6000 rpm

- Six-speed manual rear-mounted transmission

- C5 rear axle assembly with limited slip differential

- 2 pc driveshaft with aluminum torque tube

- Cast aluminum truck oil pan with custom oil pick-up and windage tray

Chassis:

- Four-wheel independent SLA suspension

- Adjustable front and rear air ride suspension

- Power rack and pinion steering

- Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS

Body / interior:

- Integral cab/box, all steel construction

- Composite hood, front fascia, and rear fascia

- Poppy red paint (Nippon)

2000 Silverado graphite, black, and carbon fiber leather interior

Cylinder heads and valvetrain:

- Flow-enhanced CNC-ported aluminum LS1 cylinder heads

- 4.036" bore x .057" compressed-height cylinder head gaskets

- OEM 2.02" intake and 1.57" exhaust valves

- Competition cams, roller follower camshaft with specific profile

- 0.532" max lift intake with 273 advertised duration

- 0.535" max lift exhaust with 277 advertised duration

- 1.7:1 roller rockers and roller cam followers

- Competition cams, 7.325" push rods

- Competition cams, 941 valve springs with .030" shims and titanium retainers

- Modified corvette C5-R rocker covers

Induction system:

- Fabricated dual 4" inlet ducting

- Dual 12" conical air filters (K&N)

- 2000 Silverado 6.0l throttle body

- New composite intake manifold with revised tuning

Exhaust system:

- Fabricated, ceramic coated, stainless steel, tubular, four into one headers with 1¾" primaries and 3" collectors (Wheel to Wheel)

- Fabricated stainless steel dual 3" exhaust system

Transmission:

- 2000 C5 T-56 six-speed manual transaxle

- Gear ratios : 2.66 / 1.78 / 1.30 / 1.00 / 0.74 / 0.50

Rear axle:

- 2000 C5 assembly

- Limited-slip differential

- 3.42:1 ring & pinion ratio

CHASSIS SUMMARY

Frame:

- Rear section shortened by 16.5" with a 10.5" reduction in wheelbase

- Redesigned and fabricated rear section for independent rear suspension

- 2000 C5 aluminum rear suspension cradle

Show wheels/tires:

- Nickel-plated custom aluminum 20" x 9 ½" front wheels and 22" x 11" rear wheels

- P255/40R20 and P305/35R22 custom cut F1-GS tires (Goodyear)

Driving wheels/tires:

- Billet 20" x 10" front wheels and 20" x 11" rear wheels

- P285/30ZR20 and P295/40ZR20 SP Sport 9000 tires (Dunlop)

Front suspension:

- 2000 Silverado front suspension

- 2 ½" dropped front steering knuckles (Bell-Tech)

- Shockwave shock absorbers with integrated air springs for air adjustable ride height, 7" max lowered (Air-Ride Technologies)

- Stabilizer bar, 36.5mm solid urethane bushings (Hotchkis Racing)

- Front wheel hubs modified for 5 x 4 ¾" bolt circle

Rear suspension:

- 2000 C5 geometry

- 2000 C5 aluminum lower control arms and knuckles

- Fabricated 4130 tubular steel upper control arms

- Shockwave shock absorbers with integrated air springs for adjustable ride height, 10" max lowered (Air-Ride Technologies)

- Stabilizer bar, 26mm hollow urethane bushings (Hotchkis racing)

Brakes:

- Front disc : 14" x 1.25" rotor (Baer Racing), six-piston fixed caliper (Alcon)

- Rear disc : 14" x 1.25" rotor (Baer Racing), four-piston fixed caliper (Alcon)

Interior summary:

- 2000 C5 steering wheel with custom logo

- Blue electroluminescent instrument cluster

- New, in-dash information screen providing suspension and performance information

- Base pattern leather-covered bucket front seats with carbon fiber inserts

- Leather-covered bucket rear seats with carbon fiber inserts

- Four-point cam-lock safety harnesses

- Transmission tunnel raised 4" to locate shifter closer to driver

- Fabricated short throw shifter (Wheel to Wheel)

- New shifter trim bezel

- New molded black carpeting front and rear

Exterior summary

- Box shortened 8 inches at front and 4.5 inches at rear and integrated into the back of the cab

- C-pillar pie cut and extended back one inch at bottom

- Fabricated outside lower rear window closeout and metal finishing

- Carbon fiber skinned domed hood with cowl area raised 2.5"

- Projector beam headlamp assemblies

- L.E.D.. parking lamp assemblies

- New, front grille with integral bow tie

- Composite molded front fenders with integrated wheel flares

- Composite body color front fascia with brake ducting

- Integrated rocker panels and new surface on lower body side

- New body color rear view mirrors

- Cadillac DeVille rear door handles (no lock cylinders)

- Composite rear wheel flare extensions

- Composite tilt-up tonneau cover with C5 hood hinges and latches

- L.E.D. tail lamp assemblies

- Reversed and shaved tailgate handle

- Composite rear fascia with integral exhaust and license plate cut outs

SOURCE: Chevrolet