my 1997 chevy silverado 1500 z71 ran without coolant and overheated i got it to turn over after i put coolant in the radiator but it started violently shaking puffing out smoke like crazy and wont go over 40 mph but it starts up and drives and the throttle seams fine and it doesn't feel like there's a compression issue but does feel like the pistines arnt firing properly there is no knocking from the rods and when you hit the gas it takes off does anyone have an idea whats wrong i believe the smoke is from a messed up piston ring but not sure about the rest

 

This forum is for 3rd generation F body cars (Camaro and Firebird from 82 to 92).

That said, it sounds like you probably need a new engine. It overheated badly and now its dead. Get a crate engine or a used pull out from the junk yard. Rebuilding is typically not economical.

GD

 

Cracked block or head or blown head gasket I would think. Probably shouldn't run it, oil might be contaminated with water, it will look like chocolate milk and doesn't lubricate well.

 

There's 3 things wrong with it:

1. It's not in a 82-92 Camaro or Firebird, which means, it's not welcome on this forum which is exclusively for the above
2. It's TBI
3. You overheated it by way of negligence and destroyed it

You might want to try here https://www.performancetrucks.net/forums or here https://www.google.com/search?q=chev...ze+truck+forum or here www.car-part.com for more help.

 

1996-1998 V8 truck engines used the short lived vortec spider injection (in other words, TBI died in 95). Nevertheless the OP needs a new truck now.
http://www.gmt400.com/
http://www.pacificp.com/forum/index.php

 

You're right, sorry, I read 97 and my brain (one of the last 2 remaining cells, anyway) interpreted it as 87.

Not TBI, but not much better, as-is.