Buy the BEST you can afford; that's my advice.
The reality is that fixing and restoring stuff costs money; even if you do it yourself.
Buying something that is structurally sound and runs is a good start.
Something you can actually drive while "fixing it up".
Compromises can be made .... Maybe you find one that is relatively rust free, but
doesn't run... Not a bad scenario, since replacing body mounts, floor supports,
floors, kick panels, etc is NOT for the faint of heart.
Much easier to extract a motor; fix it or replace it and have a nice running truck
while the budget recovers to pay for a paint job..
Evaluate your skills and what you can realistically do yourself. What would have to be farmed out?
I'd opt for a solid structure that is complete as the first criteria. Mechanical/Electrical stuff is easier to deal with .... This is , of course, My Opinion!
Whatever path you take ...the prime objective is to Have Fun!
