get summat like this
Land Rover Series 2a Tax Exempt | eBay
rip it to bits, get the chassis and bulkhead sorted, slap a hardtop on it then paint it
money in the bank ;)
buy a piece of sh*t with a rotten chassis and bulkhead, but decent body, engine, and running gear ;)
re-build with a new galv chassis and properly repaired bulkhead!
you'll know exactly where you stand, and in the long run you won't lose a penny :D