1994 GMC 1500 pickup trucks were fitted with either a 4.3-liter or a 5-liter engine depending on the model. Only the RWD and 4WD Club Coupe GMC 1500 pickups with 8-foot beds received the 5-liter engine at their assembly plants. The 4.3-liter engine offers 165 horsepower and 236 foot-pounds torque. These six-cylinder engines feature a 4- by 3.48-inch bore and stroke. Bore and stroke refer to the diameter of a cylinder within an engine and the length a piston moves up and down within a cylinder, respectively. The 5-liter engine offers 175 horsepower and 270 foot pounds of torque. These eight-cylinder engines feature a 3.74- by 3.48-inch bore and stroke. Compression ratio on all models of these trucks is 9.1:1. Standard transmission on all these vehicles is a five-speed manual transmission. The four-speed automatic transmission was available as an option on the 1994 GMC 1500 pickup.
These pickups were not all assembled to the same exterior dimensions. The wheelbase on these trucks is 117.5, 131.5 or 141.5 inches, depending on the model. They were designed to a length of 194.5, 213.4, 218.5 or 237.4 inches. Width on these trucks from their widest points is either 76.8 or 77.1 inches. Vehicle height from the ground to the top of the cab is either 70.6 or 73.8 inches.
The GMC 1500 was fitted with fuel tanks that had a 25-gallon or 34-gallon fuel capacity, depending on the model. According to MSN Autos, the fuel efficiency offered by a 1994 GMC 1500 pickup is heavily dependent on the model of pickup. RWD models are generally more efficient than 4WD models and 4.3-liter models are more efficient than 5-liter models. 4WD models offer between 13 and 15 miles per gallon on city streets. They offer between 17 and 20 mpg on the highway. RWD models manufactured in 1994 offer between 14 and 17 mpg in the city. They offer between 19 and 22 mpg on the highway.