oil pump

on a 97 k1500 (5.7) how hard is it to change the oil pump do you have to drop the front axle assembly or anything like that or is it just drop the pan and do it...??

Usually you would need to pull (remove) the engine. There likely is not enough room to drop the pan with the engine still installed.
Generally the front suspension and frame below the engine is not easily removed.

are you speaking from experience doing this because pretty much the only thing under my oil pan is my front axle and its kinda towards the front are you sure you have to pull the motor ?? i would rather unhook the cv joints unplug a few wires and lower the front axle then to pull the motor

Ive changed the oil pan on an f150 totally different truck but still ifs theres 2 ways you can do it you can either pull the motor mounts and simply pull the motor up the few inches you need to get it to drop and you can drop the frontiend ive dont it both ways try taking a crack at a f150 with a straight 6 in it its fun any way both ways are about the same in time you dont have to drop the axles just make shure you dont pull them out just drom the front end its really quite easy and if your good enough you might be able to do it without moving anything remember they put big blocks in the front of these trucks and have to leave room for them even when they put the small blocks in not like newer f150 where they dont leave enough roomfor a wrench