Bill, I did reinstall the case protector. I am keeping the bike original including the paint, hence, the Patina Bike. Just cleaning the rust and dust and doing the safety items - bearings, chain, sprockets, carbs, tires, 3,000 mile tune, etc. Paint is nice OEM except there's paint missing near the gas cap. Not sure what he spilled, but maybe he was trying to clean the rust out of this wrinkle tank as it looks like a caustic chemical mark.