Truck wants $$$

covetsthesun wrote:
Valhalla...well maybe just a bit of sentiment. More for the Grandson. He thinks the truck is awesome. What's funny is...my DH who is so far removed from sentimentality, has suggested that we hand the truck over to someone who can restore it! His thinking is that making it like new would be "productive". I...would love to have a new(er) truck. Or a good sized SUV.

First off, I understand these vehicles pretty well (GMT800 trucks) and they ARE in general very durable long lasting trucks. Arguably the best engines GM has produced. Surpassing the the (other) venerable Chevy engine, the small block V8. Amazing but not totally surprising you have a 400k engine.
And when cared for the chassis, electrical, interior etc is also quite durable as you’ve experienced.
They are also NOT rare. If you love that truck, there are still many “grampa” models of that truck running around low miles, like new so to speak.
With vehicle price wild escalation and the popularity of trucks in general, especially the good ones, you’d pay more than what it would seem it’s worth face value, but you “could” easily buy “your” truck again with less than 25% of the current miles for about $15k.

That would be a solid plan for a solid truck that you don’t have to deal with all the “new” issues and complications (either real or perceived). And money well spent if you want or need a vehicle like that still. Or a Tahoe/Yukon/suburban if you now fancy the same thing in a SUV flavor.

Not knowing your financial situation and amount of disposable income available, I can tell you matter of factly that restoring that truck in particular or anything from that era is a horrible financial decision. Especially or even moreso considering you’d be paying retail for all of it. (No DIY based on your posts now and in the past). You WILL have MANY headaches getting it “restored” and if you’re finding a few little repairs frustrating, what you’re proposing will be 1000% more frustrating. And when you’re done restoring it, you still have a 400k mile truck. Most all parts are readily and easily available and will be for many years to come, but back to my previous recommendation. If you want a “new” version of your truck start searching. There won’t be 5 of them at the local dealer, but they’re out there. Lots of them.
I’ve bought 2 different Tahoes (both 01s, same platform as yours) in the last couple years with right around 100k miles. Can tell you they are holding their value pretty well for old cars but deals are out there.
Give that one to the grandson if that’s the plan anyway. It’s not worth much money, he’s a kid, they don’t need seat heaters anyway and go find it’s twin if you’re attached to that truck.
Best of both worlds.