2004 Chevrolet Silverado SS

We remember a time when Chevrolet built true performance cars for families. The hottest of them carried the "SS" badge, which stands for Super Sport. We're talking Impalas and Chevelles, including the 1961 Impala, the first Chevrolet to carry the SS moniker. The kinds of cars that average guys drove to work and moms drove to the market—but with a little kick under the hood. Well, evidently, Chevrolet also remembers those days. However, instead of sedans, most of today's families are roaring around in pickup trucks and SUVs. To provide these households with the kind of performance edge enjoyed during the bygone era, Chevrolet has introduced the Silverado SS.


"As buyers have migrated to full-size pickup trucks, their need for refined performance has gone with them," said Silverado Marketing Director Rick Scheidt. "The Silverado SS satisfies that need by adding a new dimension of fun and excitement to Chevy's flagship truck."

"If Silverado is 'Like a Rock,' then Silverado SS is 'Like Rock 'n' Roll.'"

Building on the SS mystique of the past, this pumped up muscle truck gets it's motivation from a high-output version of Chevrolet's Vortec 6.0-liter V-8 that belts out 345 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. This is a jump of 20 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. of torque over the 6.0-liter Vortec V-8 available in the regular Silverado 1500. One of the ways Chevrolet engineers raised the output is with a performance exhaust system, which features a single, large 3.5-inch outlet pipe specially tuned for a throaty NASCAR-inspired roar.


Backing this potent powerplant is a 4L85-E 4-speed automatic transmission and full-locking differential equipped with 4.10:1 gears. The best thing about this smooth-shifting transmission is its relatively low 3.06 first gear and 0.70 overdrive final gear. The low first gear helps the truck jump off the line quickly and pull hard to 60 mph in about seven seconds flat. On the other end of the scale, the 0.70 overdrive final ratio helps keep the engine revs down when cruising on the highway. This solid powertrain also provides for a hefty 7500-pound towing capacity thanks to the standard Z82 heavy-duty trailering package. However, the downside is that this engine is also thirsty, delivering less than stellar fuel economy of 12 miles per gallon in the city and 16 on the highway.

Comfortable leather bucket seats have special "SS" embroidered headrests.

In addition, the Silverado SS comes with standard full-time, all-wheel-drive that uses a viscous-coupled transfer case to provide exceptional on-road, wet-or-dry pavement handling. It requires no driver intervention, and automatically and continuously transfers torque from slipping wheels to those with a firmer grip in a smooth, almost imperceptible manner. Its continuous 38-percent/62-percent front-to-rear torque split provides optimum handling and control. The SS also shares the upgraded brake system of the 2003 Silverado light-duty models.