can anybody tell me what the normal idle speed of a 95 454 would be? its idling around 1000 and it just seems high to me. I am new to the 454 so i am still learning

Should be closer to around 800, not sure on the exact number. Either you've got a vacuum leak somewhere, the IAC might be bad (stuck open, or maybe a chunk of crud/carbon on its seat in the throttle body), or your coolant temperature sensor (the one next to the thermostat housing) is bad - kind of easy to tell on that one if the exhaust smells rich.

Richard