Did this job over the weekend. I found good help in a mechanic friend with nothing planned except a golf game. We dropped the old plate (after grinding all the rear bolts .......... front ones came easily) and changed the skid plate without dropping the tank (canvas tow straps anchored across the rear leafs and tank stayed suspended). Biggest problem was getting the new top tank strap fed across the top and through the tensioning hole in the rear of the plate).
Definitely a two man job ......... tks for all the advise !!