It also looks as if the remaining original insulation will have to come off of the front side to access some of the bolts, but may also just be a useful thing to do in helping preserve the tub in the long run. I'll take it off carefully, and perhaps it can be cleaned up and reapplied with velcro or some such method (but no permanent glue!).
Here's the tub interior having been scrubbed, and the omnipresent surface corrosion/oxidization pockets rubbed down. In front are the parts that were removed. It'll receive a light dusting of self-etch primer, a rub down with fine sandpaper, then paint. First, however, the galvanised capping will need to be masked off.
