Step 1. Buy a beater
2. If your going to build make a list
3. Decide what you wanna build (I.e, street car, drag car , auto x, multi purpose)
4. Make a budget....... then double it
5. Build on the best platform or your waisting your money
I did this, I went though wat your doing. If your going to build, make the upgrade, or get a new car esp. If your going to dd. If not you are going to fall into a pit and 2 yrs will go by as you kick yourself and ask why u didn't go abother route. Just my .02, buy another car buy beater, then build