How much horsepower does a 1991 Chevy 1500 5.7 have?
In typical specifications, the 1991 Chevy 1500 equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 produced about 210 horsepower (SAE Net) and roughly 330 lb-ft of torque. Those figures reflect engine output at the crank before drivetrain losses.
During the 1991 model year, Chevrolet offered the 5.7-liter V8 (350 cubic inches) in light-duty pickups with either a manual or automatic transmission. Emissions equipment and fuel delivery methods of the era could cause small variations in reported numbers, but the 210 hp/330 lb-ft range was the standard expectation for most 1991 C/K 1500 trucks.
Engine details
The 1991 5.7L V8 used in the Chevy 1500 trucks delivered its power with a throttle body fuel injection system and SAE net ratings that were common for light-duty GM trucks at the time. The following specifications summarize the typical output for this engine in that model year.
Key specifications
Before listing the core specifications, note that these figures denote the standard 1991 5.7L V8 configuration in C/K 1500 pickups and may vary slightly with exact equipment and emissions setups.
- Displacement: 5.7 L (350 cubic inches)
- Fuel system: Throttle Body Injection (TBI)
- Horsepower: 210 hp (SAE Net) at roughly 4,000–4,600 rpm
- Torque: 330 lb-ft (447 Nm) at roughly 3,200 rpm
- Bore × Stroke: 4.00 in × 3.48 in
Variations among individual trucks could occur due to transmission choice, axle ratio, and emission-control equipment, but the values above represent the standard configuration for most 1991 C/K 1500 models with the 5.7L V8.
Context and how horsepower is interpreted
Horsepower figures from this era are SAE Net ratings, which differ from the older “gross” numbers. Real-world drive power also depends on drivetrain losses (transmission, transfer case, and axle). In practice, a 1991 1500’s acceleration and perceived power will be shaped more by gearing and weight than by a single engine number alone.
Summary
The 1991 Chevy 1500 with the 5.7 L V8 typically delivered about 210 horsepower and around 330 lb-ft of torque, as measured by SAE Net standards of the time. While individual trucks could show slight variations due to equipment and emissions configurations, this remains the widely cited baseline for the model year and engine combination.
