Welcome! Always nice to have another Valiant enthusiast around. If you want a much easier project and a bunch more new parts, get a '65 Valiant Signet V8. You'll have a '64-'65 Barracuda from the doors forward. This is why getting a Signet is important. V8 makes it way easier to do a bigger engine swap. 65 also gives you a bigger radiator, which is important on the V8 cars. No one makes a replacement grille, so make sure you get a good one, or start looking for a good one right away. These things have a tendency of bending if you look at them funny (especially the 65s) so good luck with that one. Don't get too hung up on trim rings. Unless they've been replaced, they're gonna be damaged. Replacement ones exist, but you can only get them from Layson's, and they're out for the time being. They're planning to have them back in stock by the end of the year though.
I prefer the look of the 64s personally, but I'm biased from owning one for over half my life. Speaking as someone who is currently building one, I would say that having to adapt everything from from 65 Barracuda parts when using new parts slows things down a bit.
Hope that helps.
