[cscobra]

Great progress, Dan. And, great pictures.

I finished complete disassembly on December 31 and removed the body with the help of several friends on January 1. I painted the complete inside of the body with satin black paint (500 degree ceramic paint), touched up the frame, and drilled a few holes that were more accessible with the body off. I bonded/reinstalled the body on January 2 with most of the same friends from the previous day. (I had already drilled all undrilled holes as I removed the aluminum panels). I reinstalled the screws holding the body to the frame at the firewall, the rear frame support, and the single screw (not replaced with a rivet) you've already discovered at the front of the car, as well as the screws holding the rocker panels to the frame. I also reinstalled the two metal plates (six screws each) at the forward upper portion of the trunk area--these also help to center the body and I plan to leave them as they are (no rivets, just screws). I then replaced all of the basic mounting screws with rivets (easily done with a hand riveter)--a total of 34 rivets hold the body to the frame (9 at the firewall, 7 for each rocker panel, and 11 at the rear frame mount). Your total may vary (especially the rocker panel count).

And, that's all I took to the body shop on January 13, where superb prep is slowly but progressively taking place (they love the presence of the caster wheels). I did leave the fuel line and the rear brake line mounted, as these were shaped by ERA while they were being installed and I didn't want to redo those lines--I did, however, remove and seal all of their mounting screws to prevent rust in the future.

I can now clean and prep the aluminum panels at my leisure without any concern about paint overspray. I am also painting the many other parts that need it so as to be ready when the body/frame unit returns.

Bottom line--it's OK to present only the frame and sealed/mounted body to the painter. I had previously checked on this with ERA, and I deliberately disassembled the car until only the body mounted on the frame remained so as to prove to myself that it was possible to do so and to reassemble it the same way.

I admire the fact that you are blocking/filling/sanding the body yourself--I have no talent in those areas. Are you also painting the car yourself?

I also like your solution to the undercar exhaust heat consideration.

I must say that I am highly impressed with ERA's engineering and how easily everything lined up when we reinstalled the body--it essentially centered itself (proven after we verified everything involved). Like you, I am so glad I chose to do it this way.