[Mike C]

My Jimmy had more mileage than that on it when my dad bought it in 1977! My original motor let go at 248k when the timing chain broke and that was 1987.

Obviously, your money your truck do what you want. But I don't think numbers matching matters at all on the trucks. There were so many made and only a few engine options that there are many available. Unlike the muscle cars that not that many were made and a rare car with the original motor DOES matter.

Midyear Corvettes (63-67) are an interesting study as the Resto-mod cars bring more money than the numbers matching restorations unless it is a SUPER rare car ala '67 L88, big tank cars, fuelies, etc.

If you don't want to deal with electronics then I think the Vortec L31 is an easy bolt in that utilizes all your existing accessories yet gets you much better heads and the hydraulic roller.

But if you are willing to jump off in EFI and wiring etc, it seems hard beat a 5.3 or 6.0 with a cam swap. But accessory drive can be a PITA and $$$$.