Is it a trailer queen, Or are you going to drive it?
If you want to get a perfect restoration then paint all the items above.
If you want a well restored car, then powdercoating is a great way to go. the only nice thing about paint is when you scratch it or hit a speed bump, you can mask it and blend it and repaint it, Powder coating you can not.
I would say if I owned a 52 split, the amount of work to prep the pan and all the parts, I would use paint. My reasons are as follows
1) you can always fix paint
2) you can fill and block just like the factory did, even on the gas tanks
3) you still want it all bead blasted, Walnut shelled, ect. So the metal is all protected and primed, and filled, and re-primed and blocked and painted.
4) Buy the time you get a floor and all small parts drilled and re tapped its not far off you doing your own prep work and painting.
The only reason that this should not apply is you don't know how to paint at all, or you are on a buget.
If you have a good paint buddy, your alright.
The nice thing about powdercoat is that your get it sanded and you get it blasted, and pay the fellow extra to block the holes and buy a kick ass tap and die set, And watch all your small items for fitment issues. But you will be done alot quicker with powdercoat.
my .03 cents.