If your family isnt behind you 100%, do some seraching, find a decent car with what you want for options, and after having some pros verify it's worth, buy it. You cannot expect to keep a project, and a non-supportive family life. Trust me. I do a ton of side work, everything but glass replacement (never could get the right..) but body, paint rust, cages, any mechanicals and mods..no problem. It's a huge sticking point with my significant other. Always was. But if you ask her, it wasnt a big deal. In terms of "i did it myself to make sure it was right.." I consider in many cases that to be in spirit only. Many people dont have the right tools, the knowledge, or the talent/patience to do the right methods, an get the right results in all facets of a build. Also, when you think you have a total cost close, add 50%, and that's really waht everything will cost. You can get deals on bodywork and paint, from guys like me, that do work on the side, but actually do it the right way. But even then, it will not be cheap. Bodywork is a talent..I dont have it..lol. I can make things look nice, and be steel and stuff, but it takes me a while. A good body guy gets it right and quick. My talent is powertrains. So, in many cases, a car goes from body guy to me..there's costs associated with moving the shell around, cleaning, chroming, all kinds of stuff that's not "parts" or "std labor". Dont kid yourself. Mopars aint cheap. A clean, done car, that is verified as solid and in good shape, will be less total than a project you have to pay more than a few hundred for. Especially as parts dry up. I can remember a shaker setup being $1000 for a mint factory complete set. Trim was easy to find. You could get rust free factory used panels..things like that. The costs have gone up in some cases thousands of percent. And they wont ever come down.
