Some frame treatment questions

[shifty]

Couple of questions:

Frame is going off for sandblasting and powdercoat in the next 7-14 days.

It's a '68 SWB. Some of the features, if it matters:

* Bagged using Suicide Doors plates up front + RE7's
* CPP bolt-in notch (bolted in, not welded)
* ECE super panhard bar kit
* ECE spring relocation kit
* ECE extreme drop crossmember + stock control arms
* CPP tubular tranny xmember
* 77-78 suspension: 5-lug, disc/drum, front crossmember + arms + steering
* LS1 + T56 for the drivetrain

On to the questions:

1) The notch: Is it safe to notch the rear, smooth out the cut portion, then take it in for powdercoat without the notch installed, or is this too risky? I'm concerned that the frame may bend at the notch, its weakest point. Should I powdercoat, then notch the powdercoated frame and treat the cut portion with rust preventative instead?

2) The crossmembers: I have no current tranny crossmember, no trailing arm (rear) crossmember, no cross brace (tiny frame brace above rear gas tank), and I want to powdercoat w/o front suspension crossmember installed. Is it risky to deliver the frame for powder without all of these crossmembers bolted in? I'm concerned that not having enough crossmembers could result in the frame getting out of true.

I just need to make plans accordingly. Obviously, major concerns here are getting a bent or out-of-true powdercoated frame back that I can't use. This is the first time I'm doing a veritable frame-off, so sorry for the n00by questions.