[JET]

I am also looking to build a tube frame car in the somewhat near future. This is going to be a daunting task for me and I have a wee bit more experience than you Tom. There is a LOT more to this than most people think. It would be a lot better if you start off with a kit car. Check out Factory Five and their GTM or their roadster. If you are looking for AWD I haven't see any decent kit cars with it, that is why I want to build a tube frame car. Mine isn't going to be a DSM though, I am looking at a '67 Chevy II with a chevy trailblazer SS drivetrain, then turbo the LS2.

If you are serious, then work your way up to a real car. I would build a go-kart for the kid, that will let you get your feet wet and do a ton of research before starting. You are going to need a tubing bender, notcher, MIG, TIG and plasma cutter before thinking about starting and you need to be able to run all of the above well. A mill and lathe would be extremely helpful also.