1997 chevy silverado 5.7 vortec engine???

I haven’t owned a truck with a gasoline engine in a long, long time. My daughter found a 1997 chev with the 5.7 Vortec engine and wants to get it for her first vehicle. I vaguely remember some grumbling about that engine and couldn’t remember what year(s) that was from. I’m doing a little web searching as i have some time. Wondering what the IDO’s audience has had for experiences with this engine. Most she’ll be pulling is a 18′ bass boat or ATV trailer
Thanks

That is their good ole 350 near the end of its life cycle. I think they used them one more year? 99 was definitely the 5.3 Some of the last years had fuel injector issues (my friends did) but I am not sure which. Maybe someone else can chime in?

The engine itself should be solid.

I’ve owned 3 so far all with over 20th on them. They are good reliable motors. 2 of the 3 I’ve had like to burn a bit of oil but it’s not a big deal if you check it often.

Just let me say that your daughter is awesome.

Then find in that era Chevrolet truck is solid. The weak point on them is the transmission. That truck will have either a 4l60e or a 4l80e trans, depending on whether it is a half ton or three quarter ton model. That is a very failure prone transmission.

Do yourself a favor and Google that trans model before purchasing. You will see many articles pertaining to failure, particularly reverse gear failure.

I have had one and my dad had one as well. They are notorious for fuel sending unit and intake gasket problems around the 100k mark. My 98 was my favorite truck still.

Randy,

i bought my 97 when I graduated college in 02 when all my buddies bought new.. I have 210,000 on it now. Never any engine issues. one alternater, one fuel pump, thats it. Still gets 17 MPG. the 350 is as reliable as any built in a truck ever IMO. I drive it now in the winter and when pulling my boat, along with typical truck duties. I am selling it this fall to my nephew who just graduated HS. gonna be a sad day to see it go. best purchase I have ever made.

I could be wrong but I thought that 95 was the last year for the 5.7 NON Vortec engine and that when Vortec’s came out in 96 were all 5.3. I have a 95 with the 5.7 350, not a Vortec, my mechanic tells me that is a rock solid engine and I should be able to get 300,000 out of it with regular oil changes. I have 168,000 on it now and it still runs like a top!

Randy feel free to call me on that truck I can tell you EVERYTHING you want to know them

My dads 97 had 210,00 on it when he got rid of it. Original motor and tranny. He did replace the fuel pump in it at one point too. Pulled a stock car around with it for a while and had no issues pulling. There are days I wish that truck was still around

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I could be wrong but I thought that 95 was the last year for the 5.7 NON Vortec engine and that when Vortec’s came out in 96 were all 5.3.

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Yep you are wrong!

The 5.7 went half way thru 1999

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The 5.7 went half way thru 1999

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I had a 97 with the 350 in it. Good truck. Some of the 350’s in that vintage had crankshaft bearing journal issues. There was a technical service bulletin about the bearing journals not all being bored in line. Mine had that problem and at about 90,000 it would have a deep knock in the engine when it was cold and would disappear as the motor got the oil pumping through it. Finally at about 130,000 it launched a rod thru the side of the block. Not sure how many had this issue but it does exist. If you know someone who has access to alldata, maybe Big G, they can look that stuff up.

My 97 had that knock when it’s cold too but a buddy of mine owns it now and it’s still going strong at 245,000.

thanks guys. Pretty much the same as what she found online about it. She’s off to make him an offer and see if she has her first vehicle

I’ll tell you what, when i bought my 97 silverado 1500 5.7 the plugs hadn’t been changed its entire life amd it was 18 years old almost 19 and it still fire right up… Those 5.7 motors will keep kicking forever! It was a mistake i think to stop making them some of the best engines! The only flaw they have his due to a higher amount of torque sometimes head gaskets get worn out faster thats all i have heard but i have 184xxx miles and my truck starts up with the quickest twist best running truck out of anyone i know. Reliable amd easy to wirk with.

I have a 99 with the 350, they changed body style a d motors half way through the production year. Intake gasket failed and had to put a create motor in it. That orange antifreeze fluid they used back then ate gaskets. You know how it is, they make some that last for ever and some that barely make it out of the dealership lot

The 350 Vortec is a great motor. It’s a shame they only offered it in the trucks for 2.5 years. Yes, some had issues, but what vehicles don’t? I had a buddy that had 260k on a 98, almost all heavy towing miles on the original tranny. Wrapped it around a light pole one night, pried it off, straightened the frame and ran it well over 300k before it finally went the way of the buffalo.

I have a 97 350 silverado extended cab with 331000 miles on her and she still runs strong. Drive it to work 90 miles round trip 5 days a week and also use it to do landscaping in the afternoons!

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I have one in my 99 Tahoe. Pulls my 20 foot Triton no problem. 198.000 original motor and trans. Uses about 3/4 quart per 3500 miles. Mine likes to eat exhaust donuts but I wont get rid of it ever.

Guys, this thread is from 2014.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

Guys, this thread is from 2014.

And the truck is probably still in its prime.
I had a 94 and a 97. The 94 with the tbi was a great motor. That truck went through hell and is still being driven by a buddy. The 97 was a beautiful ride but it was rear ended and totalled sadly.

Best truck I ever owned was 1997 Chevy with 5.7 Vortec and a 4l60e transmission. Had 225K on it when I got rid of it. Never an issue other than the intake gasket at 100K or so. I tell my local dealer if he can order me a new 98 (last year of that generation) Chevy half ton at new 98 half ton prices I will take 2.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

Guys, this thread is from 2014.

One minute Nathan is just happily surfing the web for truck porn, the next he’s registering for an IDO account and telling the world about his Chevy on a zombie thread.

The internet is a beautiful thing.

So how did your daughter like the truck randy?

For what it’s worth, my boat has an ’07 Vortec 5.7 L.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

For what it’s worth, my boat has an ’07 Vortec 5.7 L.

That’s the wakeboard boat right? So did the Affliction T-shirt and bedazzled jeans you wear come with the boat or the motor?

BigWerm wrote:

So did the Affliction T-shirt and bedazzled jeans you wear come with the boat or the motor?

You know me so well, Werm!

I have had a few all got a ton of miles with little to no issues. I did have a couple fuel pumps that I had to put in. They kept the 350 in the silverado until 98 and then the 99’s had the 350. I had a 99 with the 5.7 up until last year and my dad jumped on it when my wife wanted me to upgrade I think its probably in the mid 200K’s by now. Of all of the 1/2 tons I have owned that motor with the right gears took the cake.