There was more time spent on the tail panel...
Followed by pulling the subframe and seam seaing the underside, then I got creative with my engine hoist!
I cut some box section to make a lifting beam and hoisted the front end up so I could epoxy the underside and firewall...
I was really pleased with the finish, I was keen to get that satin look rather than matt or high gloss, and the fact that it matches the powdercoated frame was a bonus!
I also got my Bilstein shocks installed...
I sprayed down to just before the leaf spring buckets, then got creative with the engine hoist on the back end. No more difficult than removing the rear bumper, looping a strop round and then putting the bumper back on. Makes a perfect lifting beam with plenty of strength to lift the car this way. I planned on replacing the rear bumper anyway so I wasn't too worried about marking it...
I hate painting upside down, and I will point out at this point that I did not work under the hoist alone, I lowered the body off onto a pair of trestles whilst I was working underneath (same on the front). Safety first!
Ages ago I scored an SSBC disc conversion kit on Ebay with the axle out it was the perfect opportunity to install it...
I got the axle back round and set about getting it ready...
There's more...