It's off! The damn thing came away just as Jacques said. First couple of beltings did nothing on passenger side, so I started clouting the driver side, and it just fell out. No fuss, no swearing. Went back to passenger side, and another whack got it out too.
Also went to the sandblasters and retrieved the pintle spring, bumper brackets, pintle hook thingy and the backing plate that it bolts to. These will get painted Saturday, then fit to place Sunday.
Rear axle U bolts not yet had threads re-cut, but i'm sure they will get around to it soon...ish. A quick measure shows the threads will need to be cut another 50mm to fit my rear spring bundles (ones without the HD spring set).
Now a slightly diffferent tac. I have noticed most Ford front bumpers (as above) are attached by one bracket on driver side, and a Y bracket on passenger. I have a second bracket on the Organ Donor that goes on driver side. Looks to be original, and goes on the inner side of chassis behind the steering box bracket. I meant to get it off and photograph it last weekend, but just forgot.