Looking for truck swap opinion

[OneBad87V30]

I came across an 85 Silverado 3/4 ton 4x4, was small block, now has a non stock late 70's 454, TH400, 4.10's, 4" lift, 33's, has an awesome show paint job, heavy metal flake  and color shifting stripe.  The guy hardly drives it any more, lost interest, but had it a long time.  Body and paint are great, only found very minor rust on the inner rockers.  The trans, transfer case (208) and rears are slimy from leaks. We are talking about trading his truck for my 2000 Silverado 1500 4x4 extended cab short bed pickup, 4.8 V8, rare factory 5 speed manual, 81K miles, 3.73's, manual windows, locks and transfer case shifter, matching hard tonno, cat back duals, no rust, runs good, jump in and go.  My buddy thinks I am crazy for wanting the unpractical gas sucking big block when I already have one and says my 2000 is way more practical to own, better on gas, seats six, plus a hard to find truck with the stick shift.  But the 85 will be much easier to work on and parts are plentiful and cheap.  What do you think?

[zieg85]

That is a tough one.  I would stay with your 2000 if it were me. 

[OneBad87V30]

Thanks for offering your opinion.  I should point out that I had no intention of getting rid of the 2000 until after I went to U-haul to rent a trailer to tow an older car for my buddy.  They wouldn't rent me the trailer because they said the trailer, car combo was too heavy for my truck.  After checking the owner's manual I find the tow rating to be 4600lbs.   The automatic equipped 4.8 trucks are rated higher??  I tend to think that was some sort of sales pitch to favor sales of the automatic trucks which would require more service after the sale at the dealership.