Welcome to the "BOLT". I had family in the Imperial Valley growing up, my Mothers side. I always liked the desert area, cars and trucks just don't rust out there. You have a great looking project. The folks here on this site are more than willing to roll up their sleeves and give you a hand.
Wow No rust in California you say, not this one. Its lived its hole life in Calif and was built in the Fremont CA. plant. Yeah you can find from time to time some non rusted cars n trucks here, this one isn't one of them. It has some outer floor areas L&R sides rust through small spots where your foot hits the Dimmer switch left side and same ares on the right side. The rust through spots not real bad but I still have to take the Rocker panels off to get to the rust areas both L&R sides.