in what order do you guys prefer to "dial in" your rides?

[psybock]

Do you think that it's better to first get the body straight, painted and then spend money on suspension and performance? or the other way around? I'm reluctant to spend serious money on parts you can't see when i'm driving it around in oxidized primer black. Would it be smarter to paint it last, knowing that your not as likely to damage the finish working on it?

[mikesz]

I guess it depends on how much suspension and performance mods (and what mods) you plan on doing. Some guys will build an entire car then take it all apart to paint it. But I would say that this is only necessary if doing modifications that need to be fitted, fabricated, mocked, proven, etc. There is no reason to build the car twice if you know everything is going to fit (read use original parts).

It would also be bad to have to stop the build at a state where you cant drive the car because you tried to do all the performance mods upfront and ran out of money.