my advice is as follow: Suspension, suepension suspension.... doing ot right the first time will gove you a great handling platform to work on... not a crappy handling old car with overdrive transmissoin....
with that kind of budget, id blow it appart and fix whatever rust is in the belly, install an ATS subframe with subframe conectors, and some kind of rear suspension... id personaly go with lateral dynamics, but everyone will chime in here.... slap on some cragar soft 8īs and enjoy the heck out of it, in whatever paint it is in now.... next step fpr me would be a stout engine and transmission to suit the needs of your desire for speed and condition of your wallet.... and lastly send it off for paint and body.....