I was just wondering. I have couple pistons messed up and was going to get a set of pistons. Just with a little more compression and was wondering if the stock rods can handle it.

 

GM rates the PM rods in your 97 at 450HP. Two failures that I have seen, one that is documented on the para-noid website, and another, were both on engines that would appear to have exceded 600flywheel HP. Bumping the compression ratio a little shouldn't put you into the danger zone.

 

I've seen high 10's with 13#s of boost on stock crank & rods. Guy I know ran that with no problems. With what you are planning on doing, you should have no problems. You never know though!