870pilot,

Beautiful truck.

It took me 10 years to restore my Suburban. It is a "stock restore" and I get a lot of smiles and thumbs-up and hoots/honks from young people.

Do what you like - and, drive it. Your son is absolutely right - the advice givers have no idea what goes into a restoration (any kind of restoration).

I wish I was there to see the grin on YOUR face when you first drove it. Priceless.

Tim