I like to do everything myself/with friends. I don't like shops working on my car unless it's to get a tune, and I don't even like that. But...necessary evil and I sure as hell am not going to learn it all to do it myself. I just get nervous. But without my friends I'd never have the car where it is today. It was them who kept driving me to make it better and better, you know? Plus, doing anything to it I have in the back of mind that I have to do it nicely or they're going to bust my ass, lol.
A shop did my springs back before I got into working on cars. A paint shop did my paint obviously. When I did the engine bay, one of my friends led the way when welding and taught me how to do it, and we shared the labor. Then I did the body work on my own, and finally we shot the paint/clear. He and I also did my rear bumper cover and will be doing the underside of my hood this week.
As far as polishing goes, the intake came polished but I had it chromed. The blower came polished but I did it all over after a year when it became subpar (currently polishing my new S-trim).
TB/EGR came polished from Accufab. I polished everything else: IAC, EGR, tensioner (replaced it with a chromed one though), distributor, valve covers (replaced with chrome), master cylinder, prop valve, AC compressor (but removed the AC afterwards), brackets, bolts, etc. And I've done tons of work for other friends' cars (Mustangs and other) including suspension brackets, calipers, brackets, etc. Pretty much anything they want. They help me, I help them.
All the interior work was me, the engine was me and/or my friends. I think that's everything.
