Hiya Mike,
The bodywork is quite easy to fit with rivnuts with 6mm dome head bolts with washers used on parts that will need to be removed now and again, nose, scuttle and rear panel, the rest can be fixed on with rivets every 8 inches. There are flanges on the body that sit on the chassis for fixing points.
Use the side panel template for the front suspension area if it helps but cut a template first just to be sure:
http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showt...ght=side+panel
Painting the chassis first shouldn't be a problem. Add some 13mm and 6mm edge trim and you're good to go.
All the Best.....Andrew