What engine did the 97 Silverado have?
In brief, there was no separate “97 Silverado” model name that year. The trucks commonly referred to as a 1997 Silverado were part of Chevrolet’s C/K lineup and could be powered by a range of gasoline V8s and a turbodiesel, depending on the model and configuration.
More detail: The 1997 C/K pickups offered multiple engine options across light-duty 1500 and heavy-duty 2500/3500 models. The Silverado badge would reappear as a distinct name with the following generation in 1999, but the engine lineup from the late 1990s remained centered on a mix of small-block V8s, a V6, and an available turbodiesel for heavy-duty rigs.
Engine options for the 1997 C/K family
Note: Availability varied by drivetrain and cab/bed configuration. The following engines were commonly found across the 1997 C/K lineup.
Gasoline engines
- 4.3L V6 gasoline
- 5.0L V8 gasoline
- 5.7L V8 gasoline
- 7.4L V8 gasoline
Gasoline engines powered most light-duty models, with the 4.3L and the 5.0L/5.7L offering a balance of efficiency and power for daily driving and work tasks.
Diesel engines
- 6.5L turbodiesel V8
The 6.5L turbodiesel was available primarily on heavy‑duty 2500/3500 configurations, offering higher torque for towing and hauling applications.
Context and branding
Because the Silverado nameplate was not used on the 1997 model year, these trucks are officially categorized as part of Chevrolet’s C/K family. The Silverado badge re-emerged as a standalone model with the 1999 GMT800 redesign, but the engine options above describe what was commonly available to the late-1990s lineup that many buyers today refer to as “97 Silverado.”
Summary
The 1997-era pickups associated with the Silverado legacy offered a mix of engines: 4.3L V6, 5.0L V8, 5.7L V8, 7.4L V8 for gasoline power, and a 6.5L turbodiesel for heavy-duty models. Officially, the Silverado name did not exist as a separate model in 1997; it became a distinct Silverado lineup starting with the 1999 model year.
