[RenoKeene]

Welcome aboard from Sunny Central Florida!
First of all you have found the best place for info and help on these trucks, I can tell you are already feeling more comfortable with your purchase. You already have some things going for you, a friend that will help and a truck that is in better shape than most in your neck of the woods.
Keep this in mind...when you are done you will have a unique vehicle for your area that is very cool and something to be proud of.
I didn't know squat about these trucks when I bought mine over a year ago and thought I might have payed too much but, as it turns out I got a real factory big block that was in pretty fair shape. Now I'm working on making it semi-show worthy for about $25K. Can't touch a new truck for that kind of money and wouldn't be half as cool.
So hang in there, don't get discouraged and build you something special.
Good Luck!