Need Help Deciding on Project

[mcmmotorsports]

Hello all, glad to be a newbie at this great site. I am a Global Moderator over at www.elantraXD.com, my daily driver car, so I know how tired everyone might be of newbies here, but I do ask for your patience. I just purchased an '89 LX 4cyl Sedan which I plan on doing a complete makeover. I already have at my disposal a complete rear out of a '98 GT as well as front suspension and brake components. I have already got new(er) doors and rear decklid to replace the badly damaged components. I am kinda stumped as to how far I should go with this project. I have always wanted a Mustang and really this was the only way I could get one. Should I strip this thing down to nothing but a body and get it repainted? Should I leave in the glass and dash and tape everything off and paint? Should I just concentrate on mechanical stuff first and once the car is up and running, then go ahead and work on getting the body straight? Money is not that much of an issue because I am not working with any kind of deadline. 1 year, 2 years, 3 years or more, I will take as long as I have to have the car of my dreams. I just don't know if I would be happy with just putting a fresh coat of Red over the existing stuff and putting in a new drivetrain or going all out Metallic Silver or some shade of Blue with no body imperfections anywhere.
Sometimes just the sound of a 302 and some flowmasters are enough to give me a stiffy. Please help.

BTW, more pics of car over at www.mcmmotorsports.com

 

[ECU5.0]

well it just depends on if you want to be driving around a fast car that looks like ass or driving a nice looking car that drives like ass. just kidding...if i were you id get the body work and chassis stuff out of the way first so that you have a good base for the motor work you want to do. but on the other hand if you get a nice paint job and are putting the engine in and somehow take some paint off youre going to be pissed. so its really up to you and what you want to do first

 

[Bone Racing]

welds, 331 with a s-trim, full drag suspension, hood, long tubes....aka go psycho-street with it

 

[dastang2]

not too shabby, looks like mine but without the 4 inch hood and saleen spoiler.do the mechanical stuff first and this is why.
A. may scratch the new paint while working on the motor install or other mishaps that occur in these situations. they happen every time.
B. it might get faded if you take a while to get it going and if you have it outside.
C. you might get tired of the paint color before you even get the car finished.