Any advice before I attempt my first type1 body off?

Hey Guys

I am getting ready to do my first body off repair on my 75 regular bug
as it needs heater channels and floor panels. I'll also do some work on
the frame, brakes, etc. I'll take my time and will not be in a great
hurry to get it back together.

Have read through several very helpful websites and googled the
subject. Watched the bugme video ad Nauseum, according to my wife

>From what I've gathered, these are the most important points to
remember, but would like to know what you guys think:

1 - Don't open the doors - ever! I could just weld one spot to make
sure this won't happen, or could just lock the door. Welding is more
fun
2 - Weld cross braces in the door openings before the body off is
attempted.
3 - Be sure to line up the holes in the floor panel/heater channels. I
figure I'll make a template out of plyboard and index it to something
that won't change to make sure nothing moves. Not sure what a good
common index would be.
4 - Learn to curse like a boatworker and blame stuff on your tools when
something goes wrong - got that covered

Should I put a cross brace across the width of the bug?
I'd imagine that everything will start flopping around when the old
heater channels are cut out. Or should I not worry about that? (It
would be a pain to work around this brace, but that would be much
lessened by cursing like a boatworker).

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Remco