Tom, congrats on your upcoming retirement and welcome to the Stovebolt. You won't find a better place for us old GMC and Chevy lovers..... and I think most of us are like you. We learn by the OJT system. (On the Job Training) No better way to learn than getting grease under the finger nails.
Just post questions in the most appropriate forums for the best results.
**for your first 4 post you will not be able to send PM's, private messages, as the first few post are "moderated". This is to help weed out spammers ect.
Good luck, see ya around the shop...oh, and pictures when you can get a few up.