One thing I learned years ago, when this stuff was cheaper and easier to find, was that build a car should be done backwards from most.

Suspension, brakes, rear axle, trans then engine.

Learned the hard way also never trust the brakes on a junkyard rearend, especially with a single reservoir master cylinder.

They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.