Got the firewall out last night.  Wow what a lot of work.  Lots and Lots of spotwelds to drill out as well as tons of seam sealer.

Note:  plasma cutter + wads of old 1977 seam sealer == fire

here is a shot of the hole where the new one will go in

Here is another picture from the underside

and the final picture from the inside looking forward

for part 2 I’ll be installing the new one