Nice work mate. With the wife and the Land Rover. For your 3 questions..
loads, a couple are a Volvo T5 powered lancia fulvia autograss car, and currently half way through a Honda S2000 powered Austin A30 (few rear axel and rear suspension headaches with that one)
I would say I’ve really restored anything from awe full conditions to an original state, but stripes a few things down to bare chassis, and built back up.
Thirdly, no. She’s far to clever to be fooled by that. She would out my entire plans on the first stage, compared to me she is anyway.