Cutting cost would be doing as much as possible without a mechanic. Labor hours will be painful, so try to do as much as you can on your own. When I got my first project car I made it a priority to first get it back to running and driving perfectly. That meant changing all the fluids, fixing any leaks, tuning the carburetor, changing spark plug wiring, bleeding brakes, repacking bearings, suspension, get a proper alignment, new tires. When you get it going nicely, then refine it and improve it. Good luck. Nice ride you got there.