Here's a poll that's going to help me out and get your opinions on what should be done first on a project car.

 

I would say to get it to be a safe, driveable vehicle first. Make sure the engine runs, fuel lines are good, the brakes are strong , the tranny/rear-end work and one thing some forget is to replace/repair the suspension. As I have said in many posts, the best-looking cars still look ugly wrapped around a tree when suspension or brakes fail or on the side of the road with smoke pouring out of them



Maybe in your case where it is a total project only car, with no ideas of driving it until it's done, you can start where you want. But once you do paint/body and it starts looking the way a classic mustang should, it will wink at you and try to seduce you into driving it

Depending on how deep a rebuild you do, at that point everything may be out of the car anyway for paint. But it is nice to know things run before you put them back in. Don't want risk ruining a beautiful paint job when you have to pull the motor in and out 3 times.

But I am one man with one opinion

Anyone else wanna take this question on?

 

Yeah, Mark is right. If the engine and tranny are out of the car, the first project would be to get the suspension and brakes up to snuff. Then strip and paint the engine bay and tunnel. Then, with the freshly overhauled engine and tranny, that goes in. Get it running like you want it, then start on the body and interior. Interior last.

 

Guess the kid in me is comming out all over today..
I'd say safety first, then wheels and tires then interior then body work.... thats the route I'm goin... Engine, tranny, rear end, and brake rebuilds then some shinny new wheels and tires, interior work and lastly body and paint. (my body work is minimal) That is my plan. But I guess it all depends on the needs of your car... take care of it in the order it needs to be taken car of. There is no set way, all depends on the cars condition.

 

Get it running first so that you can enjoy the car at least.

 

My two cents:

Safe, reliable, presentable, fun. In that order.
Keep your plan as open as possible so you have plenty of room to change it.
The entire car is a package, anything you do to one system will affect all the others.
Make a plan that allows you to do all the generic things first. Little projects that can be done in a week or two tops are a great way to start. Body work is something you can do concurently with other items.

Keep it fun, and it will be finished before you know it.