If you're pullin' desnts and cutin' out rust... you'll need to at least primer the areas that are taken down to bare metal. I can still look like a farm truck with the original paint. It'll just have a few primer spots on it. Could be pretty cool!
Great job so far.
It's refreshing to finally see a young gun on here that has a plan and is sticking to it. Not scattered all over the place with no direction. Keep plugging away. Get it running and safe to drive first... then worry about the cosmetics.
Gary