Restoring 77 W72 Y-82 Trans Am

Hi,
2 Years ago I accidentally found the car of my dreams a 77 W72 Y-82 Trans Am. At the time I was delivering car parts, I accidently passed the shop I had delivered to a million times, so I made a u tirn in the next drive way. Which turned out to be this wood workers shop I noticed a Trans Am under a car cover, a bare shell, and a fairly complete but rusty Parts car in the back,my 80 needed 2 new fenders and I liked the 77 nose panel so I wound up buying it for $250 (my whole weeks pay at the time lol). We thought the 400 had a knock but for some reason the torque converter wasn't bolted to the flex plate on the motor and they were banging into each other, replaced the bolts and a header gasket and it runs like a top. Then I started going through the car and noticed gold paint on some of the panels, faded pin striping on the t tops and rear spoiler, and then the faded gold grills in the trunk. So I sent the vin in to PHS to see if I had anything special before I end up cutting up a classic. It came back as a w72 Y 82 car, apparently some one had cut up a gold T/A for parts and fixed this one. I peeled a lot of the white KRYLON off and found black paint in other spots. However its sat in a field since 1992 when it was hit in the quarter panel and door. The door was replaced and is gold. But it still needs a lot of help and Id appreciate some advice and direction on restoring it. I am missing some parts and some are gone due to rot or just typical lost parts over 30 some odd years. First the problems:

Rott!
Both Quarter Panels
Trunk Floor
Around Rear Window
Floors
Drivers Side rear Frame Rail where shackle mounts.
Rear Bumper Support
Light rust on bottoms of front fenders and doors not rotted through.
Air Cleaner Base rotted beyond Repair.

MISSING!
Cruise Control Parts Excluding switch and transducer on wheel well.
Wrong Q jet
Hurst T Top Seals
Steering Wheel
2 Snow Flakes
Gold Dash Bezel
Wheel Flares
has 70's headers not manifolds.

Intentions
MY intentions are to restore this car slowly over a few years and do most of the work my self, I just don't know where to find the parts reasonably, also someone cut speakers into my lower door panels does anyone repro the deluxe ones. Also the rotted air cleaner base allowed dirt to pile up on the intake manifold and it rotted the intake bolts so bad they look like carrage bolts, the ones I cant get out are the four right by the plenum because I cant fit a drill in there, any ideas on removing them? I am talking about the 2 that go into the drivers and passenger side heads. I was thinking of doing a few things to add some more power to the motor but will that devalue the car considering part of the allure is the w72 motor? How difficult is it to replace the rear frame rail? Someone recommended cutting just the bad section out then putting a smaller piece of box tubing inside it, and then getting a section of original frame rail and welding the 2 together using the small inside piece as an extra brace, is that a good idea? As far as replacing the floors I was told to leave about 1/8 of an inch all the way around and then dropping the new pan over it and then weld them up. Id imagine that would devalue the car would it? I'm really concerned about doing things half assed as this is the first car I've ever done that is semi valuable. My daily driver is a 80 T/A with C&C t-tops and it got redone to be used in day to day combat not a real resto. The floors were over lapped the motor got tossed for a built 455 Olds, I filled the cracks in the dash with phenoseal and spray painted it, JC Whitney carpets and seat covers, and the highest grade paint job Maaco sold. But the 77 Deserves better so Let me know what you guys think I should do, where to buy parts, especially the ones not reproduced, and what steps, and what part of the car should I attack first.
Thanks For your help
Anthony  

Anthony,

Try going to the www.texastransam.com!!  They have an entire junkyard FULL of original parts.  Also if you need any aftermarket parts, that look original, but dont have the high price tag of them, order a catalog from "The Paddock". www.paddock.com!!  Good luck!!  

also look at year one and ebay  

When it come to your T-Top seals  I would ck Soft Seal.  I have a 79 T-Top and had a tough time getting good seals. The first pair I got fell apart when I tryed to install them I was sent a second pair and it been only a few years and the rubber is already showing its age. I got mine from Classic Ind. I don't know who ther supplyer was. T hat is why I strongly suggest going to Soft Seal because you will be dealling with the maker of the seals. Paul