For me, it just got where it was time. My car was originally purple,than repainted silver in the 80s,and I had rattlecan primer over the silver which was so faded it looked like primer. I took the car down to bare metal, cut out the rust and repaired .Am just now finalizing body for paint. But its been ten years like you said. Its alot to take a car down to a shell and put it back together. But you are right I will be cautious driving it. I say I will have plenty of power but baby it like an old man.:)