My builds are always on schedule. I am 90% complete with 90% to go.

These days, waiting to buy avionics until you are ready to use them is the way to go. The technology improves every year. A couple of years ago touch screens and Blue-Tooth in the cockpit was still a dream. Today we have both. So time is on your side, even if you plan to buy one generation old gear. I will suggest that all of the guys who are upgrading to the latest Garmin, Avidyne, etc gear will be selling their old boxes at half price. And the last generation of gear is not too shabby compared to even 10 years ago. I have friends who laugh about shooting approaches in a 727 with King Silver Crown gear (KX-175B etc). Now we can fly GPS WAAS coupled to the autopilot in a C-172.

So work on the airplane first and think about your instrument rating as you get time and $$. Leave space in the panel for boxes using today's specs. When your airplane flys there will be avionics technology to fly with that you can only dream about today. Time is on your side.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS