Luckily I can do a majority of the work myself. From mechanical stuff to paint and body work. The only work I wont/can't do myself is alignments and machine work for say building a stroker engine.
The idea is to get a 340 or 360 and bored and stroked that (still working on what that will run me) most definately not cheap. But I'm new to a body stuff but not new to builds persae.
But I can definately see what you guys are talking about. The one I was looking at the guy wanted 2k for and it needed 2k just in metal parts not including what it would cost me to have help to fix the frame structural issue it had. Hence why I won't be buying that one.
Thank you guys for all your input. Keep it coming if you like. I like learning and talking cars.