Your're getting it done, Rex! If you leave the aluminum natural (as we have on the 1429 RMR for 9 years), check into using Gibbs Lubricant as the surface treatment. We prep the metal with 220 on a 6" DA sander at a medium/low speed, clean it with PrepSol, rub in the Gibbs, and wipe it dry. The nice thing about Gibbs is that it has no silicones in it, so painting over it (with normal paint prep) doesn't create fish eyes, as many other treatments might.
Hope to have time to check out your car this SpeedWeek.
vic