Found some info:
1997 brought a passenger-side front airbag (on trucks with GVWR under 8,600 pounds) that could be shut off to allow a rear-facing child seat to be installed. For those who liked the convenience of the third-door option but didn't need the spiffed-up Silverado, this option became more widely available. To make parking easier, engineers added electronic variable-assist power steering that provided more assist at lower speeds and less assist at higher speeds for better road feel. Other steering enhancements included a smaller turning radius for K1500 models, making these four-wheel-drive trucks easier to park and better able to handle tight spots when off road. The 4L60-E and 4L80-E four-speed automatic gearboxes were tweaked for even smoother operation and better efficiency via improved fluid flow and greater lubrication. The heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission also saw upgrades, in this case designed to lower noise and improve shift feel. Helping out the environment ever so slightly was the availability of a natural gas version of the Vortec 5700 V8, though it could be had only on a C2500 standard cab long-bed truck.
1997 brought a passenger-side front airbag (on trucks with GVWR under 8,600 pounds) that could be shut off to allow a rear-facing child seat to be installed. For those who liked the convenience of the third-door option but didn't need the spiffed-up Silverado, this option became more widely available. To make parking easier, engineers added electronic variable-assist power steering that provided more assist at lower speeds and less assist at higher speeds for better road feel. Other steering enhancements included a smaller turning radius for K1500 models, making these four-wheel-drive trucks easier to park and better able to handle tight spots when off road. The 4L60-E and 4L80-E four-speed automatic gearboxes were tweaked for even smoother operation and better efficiency via improved fluid flow and greater lubrication. The heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission also saw upgrades, in this case designed to lower noise and improve shift feel. Helping out the environment ever so slightly was the availability of a natural gas version of the Vortec 5700 V8, though it could be had only on a C2500 standard cab long-bed truck.
