I got the bulkhead back from the painter. The visible areas are really smooth, and the pure black 2-pack gleams. I have attached it to the chassis with just the outrigger bolts pushed through and the steering box supports loosely fitted – it needs alignment from the tub before permanent fixing.

The stripdown revealed the extent of the bulkhead’s rot. While repairable, a good replacement was a tidier, quicker and stronger alternative. I have bought a replacement from WWSpares, who import mint bulkheads and chassis from Australia and South Africa. It’s galvanised, so rust should no longer be a worry.