[Dominik]

Rick,
I agree with Back in Black.

Do not powder coat. the little cracks that may eventually show cause water to seep between the coating and the metal causing the metal to corrode where you can't see it.

I know that powder coating has come a long way, but I am not sure what influences it can take these days, starting with hammer blows and ending with torsion in the chassis.
I think the German TÜV (MOT) is not accepting powder coating on chassis part anymore.

To remove the body on my Contemporary I use the stabiliser bars submitted by the former owner. They get bolted inside the cockpit to keep the body from snapping at the weakest point: the rocker panel under the doors in the corner leading to the rear.
the rear section is much heavier than the front.

make sure you are in the front when lifting it.
take the wheels off!

with my english RAM Cobra we used to lift the body with two people. The body and cockpit section were one in this case.

The aluminum body I managed to lift off alone, after unbolting the collapsable support frame.
All these bodies were unpainted though!

Dominik