Thread: Where do I start...

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About a year ago I bought a rolling chassis as a start to a '32 3W highboy project. At the time I promised my wife that since I had spent most of the previous year's free time building the '59 Apache (shown in my avatar), I'd concentrate on finishing a few projects around the house before tackling the '32.
I kept my promise, accomplished a lot in the last year, so now, I just took delivery of my Downs 3W coupe body, and am ready to get serious.
I want to be sure that I do things in the most efficient order as possible, so I'm spending some time just thinking and making lists.
When I built the '59, it was my first street rod project, and might not have always done things in the best order, but for the most part, it was: take things apart, modify as necessary, and then put it back together. Never attempted anything like the coupe before, so I'm looking for any advice I can get.
My simplified plan is:
1. Remove the body from the frame, strip the frame and powder coat it.
2. dis-assemble the front suspension and polish, powdercoat, plate or paint the componants as needed, then reassemble the front end.
3. Same thing with the rear axle.
Based on my work schedule and my free time, this will take a few months, after that's done, then start concentrating on the body.
At that time I'm sure I'll have many more questions.
Does this "simplified" plan make sense? Am I forgetting something?
A few questions I have...
How do you mount seats in a fiberglass car? Do you just drill holes through the floor and use big washers, or should I fabricate some brackets that'll be welded to the frame that the seats bolt to?
I'm thinking that I might want to work out my steering column connection/alignment before I finish the frame in case I need to add support bearings depending on how many u-joints I need?
I'm going to have outside the frame headers, and currently have one of the "shorty" steering columns by Ididit, in order to have more foot room, but now I'm wondering if I come out of the firewall higher, might that interfere with my headers...anyone have any ideas on that?
FYI, the plan is 350/350 combo with a floor shifter, anyone have any reactions to the "Gennie" shifters?
How about a radiator, what recomendations (I'm planning on having AC).
I'm sorry if I'm kind of jumping around here, but I'm just typing questions as I think of them.
Thanks in advance for any answers or advice.
Randy