Newbie (sorta) with some questions

[Longhorn Man]

Surprised no one has said it yet... shop out west or south... actually southwest being best.
Illinois is REAL easy going with there salt and brine in the winter, which is why you don't see these things there. Out west, they still see them from time to time in traffic. If you are carefull, (and have the funds) you can actually find 99% rustfree ones out there. Spend as much as you can on a nice body and nice COMPLETE interior. Engine/tranny/suspention work is all cheap and generic compaired to body/interior on an oddball vehicle. You will spend a lot of time and money looking for something as stupid as a seat hold down bracket, or a third door interior panel, or the seat arm in the right color. It gets stupid fast. Under the hood... any 'ole small block/big block will fit in there. Carb'd, injected, roller cam, LS series... they all bolt in there with minimal fuss.