05HD1500

Trying to help a friend and didn't find much anywhere else so i thought i'd try here. Hes got a 97 with a stock 5.7. Looking for the best upgrades for the buck!!
A few Questions that i would like a solid answer on,

1) Is that year 350 called a L31?

2) hydralic flat tappet cam right?whick series cams will fit?

3) lt1 & lt4 stuff will bolt on?

4) Which head types will bolt on?

5) people mention marine intakes, are they the best? anything better for a truck?

And Lastly,

6) Best place for a tune, anyone with a dyno in so cal or only mail order?

Thanks For all help in advance!!!

If someone knows a list of all availible mods, please feel free to post.

Whippled2dr

iTrader: (4)

1) The 97 has the 5.7 L31 engine.

2) The cam is hydralic roller and the heads are the raised runner vortec heads. The zz4, stock LT4 and LT4 hotcam are popular cheap oem cams. There are also a couple of comp cams that are popular.

3) You can swap the LT1/Lt4 camshafts (the stock l31 cam is the same as the LT1 B-body cam). I believe the L31 uses the same pistons, rods and crank as the LT's.

4) As for heads Edelbrock E-tec heads, GM small/large port bow-tie heads, Patriot vortec head, etc will work.

5) The marine intake like the one I'm running is a great stock looking MPFI intake but there are others. The gm ramjet is another good one that can be swapped in.

6) For the 97, there aren't many tuning suites that will tune that year so it would probably make it difficult to find someone local to do it. Most of the major tuners will be able to tune it for you with a mail order tune though.

Some good info:
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/...e-toolbox.html

Also a bunch of L31 guys are on this site:
http://www.pacificp.com/forum/index.php

05HD1500

Thanks a lot! that gets me started...

Do the intake swaps show any real improvements? im sure the multipoint inj help...Fuel system upgrades?

With the hydrolic roller cam anyone know the specs? Do these heads still have the press in studs? Stock head lift limit?

Also, i heard that the stock heads won't improve much in flow till you do tons of porting, is this true or will clean up help also?

Lastly, out of all the heads you listed is there a favorite out there?

Thanks Again

Whippled2dr

iTrader: (4)

I did the swap mainly for the added fuel so I can ditch the whipple aux injectors. The marine intake allowed the whipple stuff to bolt right on without much modification and it looks stock.

The stock L31 cam specs that are floating around are 191/197 0/414/.429" of lift on a 111 LSA. The vortec heads do have pressed in studs and the valve springs only allow for about .480 of lift (heads vary). Also if you use 1.6RR you need to elongate the pushrod hole. I'm still on stock heads/cam/etc but that will change soon.
Some good info on vortec heads:
http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56505
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ift/index.html

I haven't decided on which heads to go with yet. I was looking into getting the E-tec 200's but those would be too big for you unless you go FI or bigger cubes. I was also considering sticking with the vortec and seeing what they can do. Still undecided.

05HD1500

Anyone else have an opinion on good heads, cam or other upgrades??

Just trying to find out all my possibilities!