Wood framed bodies are not good candidates to be mated to high horsepower engines. You should pass this on and find an already steel bodied car to modify.
The more I study the car I can see that you are right. It would take a lot to get it to hold up to high horsepower launches and hard braking.
I really like the wood wheels and the looks of the complete, unmodified car. I know the wood wheels wont hold up either so I've started to look for another W5 engine to rebuild, the one I've got is pretty rough.
If anyone has a line on a good W5 I may be interested.
I've got quite a few other projects going at the moment, so I figured if I can make it worth my while to sell it I would, otherwise I will keep it and tackle it a little ways down the road.
Probably, they don't seem very valuable, even when restored. But I don't have 5k in the car at this point, that's just what it would take for me to let it go. Its just an ambitious number, if I can get...great. If not, I'll keep the car.