In reply to a message from christopher storey sent Wed 19 Nov 2008:
When I put mine together, I already had most everything else
completed and ready to install. I had already
rebuilt/restored/painted/had plated/etc most of the
component parts. I felt doing it that way, the project would
flow better.
But I did mine somewhat differently because I didn’t finish
the final bodywork and painting until the engine was in but
before I put the glass or interior in. I wanted to be sure
to get the panel alignment spot on. So on the shell, all the
interior, bulkhead, frames, door shuts, bonnet underside
etc. were finish painted with colour but the exterior
remained almost finished but in urethane high-build, so I
could adjust later it if necessary.
IIRC, the first jobs on the shell were the under-car fuel
pipe, maybe cleaning out all the weld nut threads under
there while you’re at it (for the exhausts, heat shields
etc.) Then the fully assembled and aligned IRS, the front
suspension, steering rack and column, so now it could sit on
jack stands with the wheels off.
In my case, I had removed the doors and the hatch for easier
access but that might not be a good idea if you’ve already
had those installed and aligned.
You need to have some prior notes here, because many of the
frame and picture frame bolts have various clips under them
to hold looms and pipes, so if you don’t know where, you’ll
be removing them again later. You also need to know the
correct runs for the looms and brake pipes etc.
Then the heater pipes, wiper rack and motor and the
electrical stuff. You need to finish the dash, the wiring,
demister vents and the dash top before the windshield goes in.
Then maybe the bulkhead stuff, brakes pedal boxes, covers,
reservoirs, washer, heater valve etc. and then you can start
the hard brake lines and the remainder of the wiring.
Then, I put the engine in, (don’t forget the propshaft) the
rad, header tank etc. put the wheels on and the gas tank in
temporarily and test drove the car, sans doors, bonnet or
hatch and still no glass or interior. That was fun,but a
mandatory event, anyway.
Next was the installation of the doors, hatch and rebuilt
bonnet, together with the final body alignment and
adjustment (which included some more minor bodywork in my
case, to get the gaps and lines correct across the doors and
bonnet etc.).
Then, I block sanded the whole exterior, fished and masked
the body ready for the final colour, which a friend applied
for me. I had removed the bonnet for this, for ease of
painting but it was painted at the same time as the car, in
the same booth.
Next was the interior, a Suffolk and Turley kit I imported
from England and installed myself Plus all the body seals,
door seals etc. and finally the glass and exterior trim.
I may have some of this out of order because it was 10 years
ago and from memory. But in any case, fitting out the car
was certainly the most exiting time of the whole project for
me. Next to actually driving it and getting comments from
other restorers. 
Good luck with yo–
Clive, '62 Coupe 860320
Ontario, Canada
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