jcooper J. first off, welcome to craziness. Looking forward to meeting your new mistress. Have to remember that what ever the car cost, the other half with want same worth applied to her. New kitchen, Dining room set, Car, Vacation or cruise, and the list goes on.
Now after doing fact finding for 2 years before building my cobra there are a few thing I will ask you before to start this quest.
1 Read the manual a couple of times and ask question here or talk to Bob, Doug, or Pete about anything that brings a question to you
2 How mechanic ability do you have? Also tools in your garage? Lift jack, jack stands, air tools, and ROOM? It's very hard in a 1 car garage.
3 Unless you do body work for a living on fiberglass leave the body work and painting to the PROS. I have seen people try and to this part of the build and it takes years to get a masters eye for perfect seams and body work. If you turn your body into a wave looking down the side of the car, it will take twice as long and cost more to have the mess fixed.
4 Please let ERA paint the frame, bond the body to the frame and paint the car while in Ct. Even having this done you are still looking at about 60-100 hours more of assembly. Shop hard, you will not fine a better place for the body work that needs to be done on the car. You still have a problem,,, What color or colors is it going to be??
5 Make a big build list and follow it. There is no time date it is needed in. It the build that will be fun and a knuckle bang or 2 to remember. The Father and son project is a great idea. Shop hard for parts, start collecting now. What motor are you looking to have in the car. This is a big money issue. To keep cost down buy a 390 FE motor and stroker kit to a 446. Have a street motor with alot of low end power. Take people WHO KNOW what they are looking at and how to check out things.
6 Now for the last issue, Here on CC we all love cobras. No other car has done what a cobra has in the 50 years since it came from Shelby. It's fast, nasty, brutal, loud, and very unforgiven. Depending on the power level in the car, a killer. This car has no traction control other than your right foot, manual steering, manual brakes that with the 12" setup will put you through the wind shield but not ABS unless you build a system. A ride that is very firm even with great seats that ERA sells. Going to a couple of driver schools is needed before tking this car out on the street. We lose 1-2 owners every year from accidents. I would like to see you have a great easy build and many years of fun with the car. Going to shows with the car is great. You may also want to look into a car trailer and tow truck too. There is nothing wrong with protecting your investment. Good luck on the build. Kit car show is coming up in Carlisle in couple of months. Walking around the show will give you come great ideas, possible color combos, and meet alot of nice people. A bigger show is in Ohio with 3-400 cobras. Rick L.