Make a plan and try to stick to it. Gather the major parts before you start, sheetmetal, drivetrain, wiring harness, wheels, etc. With the big ticket items on deck, finances will not slow you down as much. Get some friends over to do the teardown, jump in with both feet. Trade services with someone who can do what you need. Plan ahead and get the interior shop on line paint and body, etc. As you get a panel done, get it to the body shop to do final prep. Do the sheetmetal first, get it to paint, do the frame and suspension, have it ready for the cab to come back. Get the cab and doors finished first, mount to the frame, install weatherstriping and start wiring harness. Mount remaining sheetmetal, do the finish work, go do a nasty burnout.
The 53 took me 3 1/2 years, most of the time was waiting on the body shop, always the slowest part of the build. I also had many busy spells with my mural painting business.
The 62 Unibody was built in 9 months with an assistant, paint still took a lot of time.
I have all the sheetmetal collected that I need for mine, but I don't want to take it off of the road to do it.......I have a new engine almost ready to go in, built by the high school auto shop, another resource. Around here, they only charge for parts, no labor. They may be a good contact to get some things done on the cheap when you don't have time.