I have a 1999 k2500 classic 5.7 vortec. Almost every time I go to buy parts the dimpled face kid behind the counter gives me parts for the 99 new body style. I always say 99 classic, but he is to busy to listen because he wants to get back to TikTok. I have started to say I have a 1998 just to get the right parts. One day I will get burned and get something that 98 has and the 99 classic is different. What are the differences between the 98 and 99 classic? Is the ecu the same?
I've been down this road with both '99 Burbs and my '90 Burb (Suburbans carried the previous body style over in square body era too).
What worked a lot was to bring the VIN number in when buying parts.
Do you have another parts store to go to, or maybe just a different counter person at that one? I was fortunate at my local O'Reilly's (well local when I still lived in Stafford, but I still do a lot of my repairs there) that I got a very qualified person from the commercial account counter. They grew up in a third generation family run auto shop, and that kind of knowledge isn't found at the retail store level like it used to be. Back in the 70s when I started in the store my Dad worked in, and then we bought it in 1978, everyone who worked there, worked on their cars or trucks. Of course vehicles were much simpler then....
There was a young guy at my store who had grown up around GMT 400s and had one that he dailied, and worked on. I haven't seen his truck or him the last few times I've been at the store, so he may have transferred to another location. So there are youngsters out there who know what they're doing, ya just gotta find them!
Another thing; the way Rock Auto online catalog lookup is, where you have to plug in year, make, model and engine, may not be how all parts store computer catalogs are formatted. If it was, then the 5.7/7.4 vs. 4.8/5.3/6.0 should make a difference (since that's a good distinction between 400/800 trucks). Good luck with future purchases, hope this helps!