"Do you think I should squirt anything in the cylinders to keep the rings and cylinders lubed?"
Sure - Marvel Mystery Oil
" I have the piece with 2 u-joints to connect the rack and pinion to the column, but there is a bigger diameter tube that from my vantage looks like it goes over the approx. 5/8" diameter steering rod, but the two mounting bearings do not fit over the tube."
Picture would be good. Al Merklin makes a bushing from a skateboard wheel (or something like that) to go between the column and the steering shaft. Pretty much any type of bearing would work - sealed ball bearing is best.
" It came with two 914 seat buckets, but no upholstery, at lease none that is useable. "
914 or Mazda Miata seats will prob'ly fit - Mazda will be cheaper from a Salvage yard and if you're patient, you could even find them in the color you want. $75 for two would be fair
"The rear suspension is part swing axle, but no torsion tube or torsion bars. Instead it has coil overs."
That's cool, and probably as effective as the torsion bar/training arm of the original.
"The sump is hanging way to low, so I will have to buy a shallower pan"
See @edsnova
"It has all the glass, but no rubber or trim. If you want to give me the low down on where to purchase rubber and trim, I would be grateful.
McMaster-Carr
"It came with an unmounted fuel cell, but it does not fit anywhere without some modification, so ... who knows what I will do with it, ..., kind of depends on where I fit the radiator."
The only other car I know of on here with a fuel cell is Cory Drake's "Hoopty". That might tell you something, but if you can find a way to make it fit, cells are pretty cool
"It was originally designed to run on electric power"
Seriously?!?!?!?!? Wicked cool! Is that still a viable alternative? I might be able to hook you up with the folks at WPI.edu doing those conversions.
The swing axle concerns me, but I will keep on researching work arounds.
Meh. If you set it up right, it should be fine. Run a camber compensator and rave on.
"Presently it has Fuchs style wheels and I like 'em, ..., alot."
Me, too.
There are only two lug bolts installed per each wheel with the other 3 spaces empty, and I had a bit of a quandary figuring out what to order.
14mm by 1.0 pitch? I'll have to check that, but it's not a coarse thread.
I took one off, but it was the cone type seat and the wheels have ball type seats. The Fuchs are five lug, but not wide. I don't as of yet know the bolt pattern.
5 x 130 same as any Porsche, plus the Audi Q5 (and maybe a VW Toureg, but don't quote me on that).
"It is overwhelming because I keep seeing what I need to do, and it is a lot."
Yup, been there.......Felt that.
"I don't like the idea of putting the whole car together and then taking it apart to paint, but that is what I have seen is done with quality builds and I guess I already knew the answer and was maybe hoping I would hear something different."
Not from any of us......This ain't Maako, after all.....
"It came with some very old ivory knobs and includes a cigarette lighter and ash tray."
Period correct?" (just kidding....)
"I don't like the Subaru air box/filter, but it looks like it may fit, so I may keep it for now."
It'll be quieter.
It came with a very old VW wiring harness and maybe I will purchase a new one, make my own, or use the old one to start. Any opinions on that?
either https://www.painlessperformance.com or buy a harness from Vintage.
Opinion needed: The roof is fiberglass, which does not lend to much protection from an accident. Should I install a roll bar? From what I can tell, mounting to the existing frame would not be a huge problem. I don't like roll bars that are prone to having a head hit them, so that would be the real obstacle.
Contact Tom Marantz @Tom Marantz He has a JPS 356 coupe with an internal roll cage.
Is that enough for now?
Keep 'em coming!