I am following your build, while I don't have much thin metal experience I do have a fair amount of welding background and what I think is the basic amount of metal fab skill not to absolutely destroy the thing.
I am also following your situation. I am afraid that is what mine looks like under the cap, however my perches look semi ok.
I know this isn't going to be done for a while, I have already sat on it for ten years so it is what it is. I have gone back and forth on selling it and buying something built already, but I want this one to be mine not someone else's car. If it take ten more years it takes ten more years.