Newbie...Beginner Questions

[DrunkinJacket]

For the last 5 years I've wanted a project car. Something I could play with in my spare time, so I can stop fiddling with my primary vehicle (there are only so many projects you can complete in a weekend so you can make it to work on Monday). So I'm hoping y'all can help me with a few beginner basics.

1st off I don't currently own a house, but intend to buy in the next year with a must have being a large enough garage to work on my car. What, if any equipment should I begin looking for to make life easier. I currently do most of the basic maintenance on my 2001 Jeep Wrangler, and could probably justify buying a small lift (if necessary) as well as other tools, but what typically do you need for a project car, and what power draw can you expect to need (I'm curious, as every time my air compressor kicks on in my current rental home, the lights dim for a second).

2nd what is a good project car for a beginner. I love the 50's as far as style, but could make do with an early 60's model. I'm partial to plymouth and chevy, but just want something fun (fins and a nice grill might be kinda cool). I'm assuming something that doesn't have a unibody, as I'm not overly experience in body work and figure replacing panels may be the easiest way to go if there is body work required. But what make and model typically has the most readily available parts. What frames allow for more swag in regards to replacement engines (I don’t mind not going with a stock engine, but what frame style, or model type typically allows the most wiggle room in deciding on an engine type)? I’d like to keep my initial purchase price under $2k (preferably well under) as I realize there will probably need to be a decent bit of money thrown into the engine, paint and upholstery.

Just curios if there are any good starters out there. Thanks.

[MrPbody]

Pretty broad range of questions there guy.

Currently early '60s cars are gaining momentum, as the muscle car sources get played out. Finding the Plymouth in good condition AND for sale, could be a challenge. The Chevys are more plentiful, but also more popular. The upside of that is the availability of parts and information.
Unless it's all there, I would avoid 409 or 348 cars. Certain pieces are made of "unobtanium". The expense of rebuilding the 409 and 348 is quite high, as well, compared to the 283/327 stuff.
One of the more popular and rare models is the '62 "glass house" or "bubble top". That's a '62 2-door with the '61 roof line (big back window, thin "C" pillars). '63 and '64 Impalas are still pretty available. The big-finned Chevy is the '59. Rare.
The Buicks are gorgeous cars, but drivetrain parts and services are hard to come by. The Olds as well. They changed their engine families later in the '60s. The Pontiac is another with lots of chrome , grills and fins, through '60. Most later engine parts fit the early V8s. You'll find the value of these three GM division cars rising fast. Some of the special ones are already cost-prohibitive. A '63 409 dual quad car can go for as much as $10K for a rusty one, "ready" for restoration. Even more if it has a "history" (I have a '62 Catalina that was an NHRA record holder in the mid '60s. I'll be hangin' on to that one...).
May or may not be much help here...