Hope Lives On!!

Sorry to hear about the cancer, I hope you are fighting it will everything you got.

1. If you want to build something quick and painlessly, go find yourself a car that has all the body and paint work done. DOn't be too picky on the Make and model. A good starting point is a 70-73 Dart. Look on Craigslist or Ebay (you might pay a premium on Ebay though)

2. Suspension & Chassis. Buy ready to bolt on assemblies. Like RMS Alterkation front K member, suspension, brakes, engine mounts. They also have a 4 link retofit rear suspension kit for the back end.
https://www.reillymotorsports.com/store/home.php

3. Buy a complete transmission assemblies like the Passion manuals or TCI for an automatic. This will save you a lot of time.
http://www.passonperformance.com/
http://www.tciauto.com/

4. Engines. If you want to save yourself a lot of time, buy yourself a complete crate motor, the new mopar modern Hemi's are great, ready to run, reliable. They are also easy to find.
http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/5hecrenmp360.html

5. Exhaust. Buy a ready to bolt on TTI system. From headers to the tailpipes, its easy to install and it fits.
http://www.ttiexhaust.com/

6. Also, make it nice to drive, get a whole interior kit from Year One.
http://www.yearone.com/

Also, don't be afraid to tell people when ordering parts you story, let them know you have cancer and ask if they can expedite your parts.

Good luck, let us know what you have chosen.