To the origional poster...
It's a shame there are not a million people out there like you. It would give those of us who are insane about this a life doing what we love.
I have done a few rebuilds (only 1 CJ and is was cosmetic/mechanical maintenance only 1986)
There is such a huge quality difference between the work that one person does to another.
The guy who paints for me, is the best damn painter I know! Every single job he does, even the cheap cash dent fixes on old POS vehicles, he does them perfect. No speed lines in the door jambs, no orange peel, no paint on the rubber.
If you had the desire to invest a little bit of sweat equity in your project you might be able to boost the level of the results that you get a ton.
For example, if you pull your own hood, grille, fenders, doors, tailgate, and take them to the media blaster, who will then take them to your body/paint guy, you will save a ton of $$$ and get a really good job paint wise if the parts are painted off the Jeep so that they can paint 100% of the part all the way around.
While that stuff is getting done you can have some one fix up any mechanical issues (because your Jeep will still be lot driveable).
Then take your Tub/Chassi/Frame to the shop and get the Tub pulled for its resto, and get the frame done at that time.
IT will cost me about $900-$1100 to get my hood, doors, fenders, grille, tailgate(swingout), and my 4 top panels (world top) media blasted, skimmed with filler, and painted. (I'll be putting a new hood, 2 new fenders, and a new drivers (right side) door shell on this.
I'll get my Tub Assembly Work done at a different shop where the guy specializes in panel replacement on muscle cars. Then after that is done and the Tub is Epoxy primered it will then goto my paint guy for finish.
While that is going on I plan to do POR15 on my frame (after it gets media blasted) at home in my garage.
I will install the engine, tranny, t-case, lift springs, shocks, brake and fuel lines, tank, and anything else before I put the body back on.
If you do goto some one make sure that you know what you want done or you will get the I did not know you were so dumb treatment.