GMC Sierra

The GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup truck that served as the successor to the GMC C/K series. It is mechanically identical to the Chevrolet Silverado in light-duty (1500) and heavy-duty (2500 HD and 3500 HD) configurations.

It’s worth noting that the Sierra moniker was first used to designate the range-topping trim level for GMC models until 1988, when the first-gen GMC Sierra pickup truck entered the market.

First-Generation Sierra

The first-generation GMC was essentially a rebranded fourth-generation Chevrolet C/K pickup truck.

The first-gen Sierra rode on the GMT400 platform, which it shared with the fourth-gen Chevrolet C/K, first-gen Chevrolet Tahoe, eighth-gen Chevrolet Suburban, first-gen GMC Yukon, and first-gen Cadillac Escalade. Production took place at assembly plants throughout North America, including the GM Arlington plant in Texas, the GM Fort Wayne plant in Indiana, the GM Flint plant in Michigan, GM Janesville plant in Wisconsin, and the GM Oshawa plant in Canada.

For the 1995 model year, General Motors gave the first-gen Sierra a mid-cycle refresh that included revised exterior styling and the introduction of a suite of safety features.

The first-gen Sierra was available with a bevy of powerplant options across all configurations:

Model Year Engine Horsepower @ RPM Torque (pound-feet) @ RPM Fuel Type Aspiration Notes
1988 – 1992 4.3L LB4 V6 (Vortec) 160 @ 4000 235 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1993 – 1994 4.3L LB4 V6 (Vortec) 165 @ 4000 235 @ 2000 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1995 4.3L LB4 V6 (Vortec) 160 @ 4000 235 @ 2000 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1996 – 1998 4.3L L35 V6 (Vortec 4300) 200 @ 4000 235 @ 2000 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated
1990 4.3L LB4 V6 (Vortec) 150 @ 4000 230 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Up to 8600-lbs GVWR
1991 – 1993 4.3L LB4 V6 (Vortec) 155 @ 4000 230 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Up to 8600-lbs GVWR
1988 – 1993 5.0L L03 V8 175 @ 4000 270 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1994 – 1995 5.0L L03 V8 175 @ 4200 265 @ 2800 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 7200-lbs GVWR
1996 – 1998 5.0L L30 V8 (Vortec 5000) 230 @ 4600 285 @ 2800 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated
1988 – 1993 5.7L L05 V8 210 @ 4000 300 @ 2800 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1994 – 1995 5.7L L05 V8 200 @ 4000 310 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1988 5.7L L05 V8 185 @ 4000 295 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1989 – 1995 5.7L L05 V8 190 @ 4000 300 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1996 – 2000 5.7L L31 V8 (Vortec 5700) 255 @ 4600 330 @ 2800 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated
1988 – 1995 7.4L L19 V8 230 @ 3600 385 @ 1600 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1991- 1993 7.4L L19 V8 255 @ 4000 405 @ 2400 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated 454SS Only
1996 – 2000 7.4L L29 V8 (Vortec 7400) 290 @ 4000 410 @ 3200 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
2001 – 2002 8.1L L18 V8 (Vortec 8100) 340 @ 4200 455 @ 3200 Gasoline Naturally Aspirated C3500 HD Only
1988 – 1989 6.2L LH6 V8 126 @ 3600 240 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR w/MT
1990 6.2L LH6 V8 135 @ 3600 240 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR w/MT
1988 – 1989 6.2L LH6 V8 140 @ 3600 247 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR w/AT
1990 6.2L LH6 V8 140 @ 3600 250 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR w/AT
1991 – 1993 6.2L LH6 V8 140 @ 3600 255 @ 1900 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1988 – 1989 6.2L LL4 V8 143 @ 3600 257 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1990 6.2L LL4 V8 150 @ 3600 265 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1991 6.2L LL4 V8 150 @ 3500 280 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1992 6.2L LL4 V8 148 @ 3600 246 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1993 6.2L LL4 V8 150 @ 3500 280 @ 2000 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1994 – 1995 6.5L L49 V8 155 @ 3600 275 @ 1700 Diesel Naturally Aspirated Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1992 6.5L L65 V8 180 @ 3500 380 @ 1700 Diesel Turbocharged Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1993 6.5L L65 V8 190 @ 3400 380 @ 1700 Diesel Turbocharged Over 8500-lbs GVWR
2000 – 2002 6.5L L65 V8 195 @ 3400 420 @ 1800 Diesel Turbocharged With MT
2000 – 2002 6.5L L65 V8 195 @ 3400 440 @ 1800 Diesel Turbocharged With AT
1994 – 1999 6.5L L49 V8 180 @ 3400 360 @ 1700 Diesel Turbocharged Less Than 8500-lbs GVWR
1994 – 1997 6.5L L56 V8 190 @ 3400 385 @ 1700 Diesel Turbocharged Over 8500-lbs GVWR
1998 – 2000 6.5L L56 V8 195 @ 3400 430 @ 1800 Diesel Turbocharged Over 8500-lbs GVWR
  • GVWR – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
  • MT – Manual Transmission
  • AT – Automatic Transmission

Transmission options included the GM three-speed automatic transmission, several GM four-speed automatic transmissions, the GM four-speed manual transmission, and several GM five-speed automatic transmissions.

Production spanned from model years 1988 to 2000, while the 2000 Sierra had a trim lineup that ranged from SLE and SLT. It’s worth noting that GM sold the GMC Sierra Classic alongside the second-generation Sierra for the 2000 model year only.

Second-Generation Sierra

Coming soon.

Third-Generation Sierra

Coming soon.

Fourth-Generation Sierra

Coming soon.

Fifth-Generation Sierra

Coming soon.

More GMC Sierra Resources

Follow these links for more GMC Sierra information:

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