97 5.7 vortec build questions

[GregYAMAHA]

I have a 97 tahoe with the vortec 5.7 that ran awsome with 237,xxx miles that was my daily driver, well one day heading to work she decides to lose oil pressure and started knocking. I got it to work an trailered her home. I love this thing an it had good power, but I Want somewhere in the neighborhood of 350-400 horse, Keep in mind it will still be my daily driver after its finished. I was thinking of building a 355 with the stock fuel injection. So my question is where do i begin? I know I have to take it out and apart, but what are the best budget internals to go with? What Does it need to be bord to an what should i do to heads, CAM, crank? Any an all info would be awsome and as like most of us itll be a budget build lol as well as my first build

[marshall]

Motors with rod knocks aren't the best place to start, you will be money ahead refreshing a running engine. Your vortec heads are nice pieces if they aren't cracked, and stock rods and crank will be fine with new bolts. Find a good machine shop, they can get you set up for your budget and you can assemble it yourself.