IMO it's almost always a safe bet going as close to stock as you can. Otherwise, when it comes time to sell, you narrow your potential market considerably the further from stock you go. That's why when I see someone say "it's my car I'll do it the way I want to", yes true, BUT, in the event you want to or worse yet, NEED to sell, it may take some time to do so. All of a sudden the "it's my car I'll do what I want to it" can come back in bite you really quick.

Again, this is only my opinion, but I have seen it over and over again. I've also seen where people buy a car cheap thinking they can "only put X into it", then, they get into the project, put twice what they expected and then can't afford to finish. In the process, they "did things their way" and now can't sell the project for what they paid for it to begin with.

I always say when people buy a project and put together their estimate as to what it will cost, they should automatically double it or better yet, tripple it. Then, if you think you can't afford the double or tripple estimated cost, don't buy the project in the first place because it's a long haul, TONS of money, TONs of time, TONS of setbacks and dissapointments.

Look on Ebay and you'll see plenty of "custom" built, "I'll build it my way" cars and very often they have zero bids.