I can relate with you on the numbers! When my body came off, that was the first thing I did too! Just had to see for myself, even though I knew what they were.
Glad you finally got the X member out!
Are you going to post pics of the frame before blasting? I'd really like to see it.

I have the pictures through monday listed on my website...

(the one in my sig)

showing the frame damage.. I took some more pictures last night.. but I was running out of daylight..

ill see if I can get them posted tonight

I went through the same thing your dealing with. First off I used VBP for my front springs coil sloloms, then in the rear I used there compostit 350 spring with gas shocks, front and rear anti-sway bars also for slolom use. This in it's self made a world of diffrence. This also droped the car about 1" Then with 17" tires and rims wow no C-5 has anything on me. For steering I did the steroids thing,,I had to wait quite awhile for the kit to come in, but in one satuday I had the old out and new in. No big thing! Then all I needed was a alinment. I dive the car to and from work every chance I get 100 miles a day. It handles so great I can't say enough. That was before the new coil over front end was available. If I was doing it again I would use them.
Hope this helps and if I can help in any way let me know.