Mark, I advise that you think long and hard before pressing the button. A project like this is a huge investment in time and money, neither of which you will get back unless you research and understand what you are getting into. And its not just time and money, at the end of the day you will want to drive this thing, so safety must also be a huge consideration, you have to know what you are doing I have seen and spoken to guys who have been persuaded ( or persuaded themselves ) that they can build a car in a few weeks with a hammer and a screwdriver, only to find that their abilities and their partners patience preclude that they ever finish the project. I am not trying to dissuade you, just place a caution in your mind, talk to the guys who have been there/done that, research all of the manufacturers / suppliers, join the enthusiasts club and read up everything you can - do all of that before you hand out a fat deposit and worry if you have done the right thing. At the end of the day, unless you are very rich, you need some residual value in your investment, you will need to recover as much as you can or even make a profit, but decisions made now will be a significant affect on whether you achieve that when you need to.