Yup...wise words Ganzman.
I've built a few vehicles..2 & 4 wheeled....
..and building for yourself is a whole different ball game
compared to building for another person
(I built a 2 stroke trail bike way back when, for a guy in the UK..
..my sisters boyfriend...lectured him on oil addition etc..
...he still seized it...and blamed me!)
My gut says youre 100% right...
..and better to build up / modify a donor vehicle...that he supplies.
That would cut the "mechanical" aspect down to intake/exhaust and lift....
...which is fine.
Jo