Welder advice - where to start

Since I'm now getting a proper shop space to bring my early As back to life, I'd like to consider welding options. Looking for advice on where to jump in.

Back in the day when I learned welding there were two kinds - gas and stick. Now there's MIG, TIG, wire and stich and more. Back then welding sheet metal was expert stuff - lead was good and bondo was bad. But now I hear technology has made it a little easier, and I need help catching up.

What I want to do is light body sheet metal stuff - floor pan patches, quarter panel patches etc. I don't need deep structural penetration, but handling all the warping issues of sheet metal. From what I gather people have figured out better ways and better equipment.

What kind of welding gear should I start looking at and educating myself about? There's a Harbor Freight outlet dangerously close to my shop now. I could use the help making the right decisions. Willing to work on the learning curve but want to know which is going to be right for my auto resto needs.

Obligatory A-body content: splicing in some rear quarter patches on my 66 Dart is high on my agenda, and will be ready to post pics when it happens. Then floor pans on the 64 Dart GT is close behind.