Good to hear about your project, I hope my efforts will inspire you.
I had abandoned my car to an unheated shed in 1976 with rusted outer sills and holed osf wing. In the mid 80s I fitted a new wing and nearside sill, patch repaired the inner wing panels drivers floor and nearside inner sill, ran out of time and pushed the car back in the shed.
Fast forward to summer 2015, where has the time gone! Pulled car out of hibernation, wash the dust off it, assess condition, remarkably good considering been left for so long. I have decided to repair the car rather than restore it and retain as much of its originality as possible. I have only painted the areas that I have repaired the existing paintwork is shining up well although there are rust pinholes in the roof and bonnet, I think I will keep polishing these and hope it does not get any worse.
I have striped the subframes cleaned and painted them, they were both in excellent condition has I had originally strengthened and gusseted them for rallying and converted to dry at that time. They are now rebuilt with new bushes and bearings in the suspension arms.
The body shell is quite good, I have cut out the rusted areas and welded in new metal rather than replacing panels, one of the most difficult areas was the roof gutter lip that had disintegrated on the corners.
Generally the car is coming along well, I am no expert and have only self taught skills, or lack of them! But I am methodical.
I am trying to return the car to how it looked in the 70s when I had my most fun with it.
My budget is limited and I have tried to reuse and repair as much of the original car as possible.
I do have some photos, if there is a particular area you wish to see or I can be of any help with your cooper, please let me know.