POLL: Pretty vs Functional

Get a couple grand. Pull every part off the car. Have a company sandblast it all and epoxy it. Have them do the doors, hood and trunk lid and all the other parts that you want too. Have them soak the inside frame rails and all seams too. You may as well just weld in your sub-frame connectors and roll cage first b4 blasting and coating.
Then you can edge it all in, do the underside and engine bay, then just build the machine. Later you can do the external body work.

I have a pretty great sandblaster and quite big compressor but I should have had a pro do it. They can use proper media based on the panels to prevent damage and get it done expeditiously. They usually have monster compressors and media by the half ton. They can have your car back to you in a few days. Usually they can coordinate e-coat after bare metal or soak the whole thing in epoxy for you. Thats my opinion.