[ortamenxs]

So my nova hasn't had a bumper in years, I made a sheet metal one that has been serving the purpose while I tend to other matters. Well I got a bumper for her. It is pretty but I have an issue.

Any tips on how to remove the brace/backer from the chrome part of the bumper?

It is solid and enclosed (except for the slots for the bolts) so I need to take the chrome bumper off and put the brace on to get the bolts in then install the chrome face/bumper to the brace. Well here in lies the problem. I can get the bottom bolts off, there are over half a dozen running along the bottom all with clips, I can get those out/cut those off if needed to get the bottom of the bumper free from the back. But the top row of bolts I can not get out. If you look at the bumper as it was on a car there are a row of nice shiny round chrome bits, the back of those are the bolts that hold the top to the bracer.

I can loosed the nuts on the inside, then the outside, the lovely little chrome bits just spin around on me. I can't grip them with anything (pliers, vice grips, ect. . .) I've tried, I can't cut them off or get a grinder in to grind them off they are in a awkward spot to get a grinder/sawall to with out damaging the bumper, I don't want to damage them really. Bumpers/bumper parts have been a pain to find for me.

Any tips or ideas on how to remove the mount from the bumper?

I can't get the bolts into the bumper shocks on the nova with out removing the brace from the bumper.

[ortamenxs]

Hmmm Maybe I'll just break them and buy some new steel bolts.

[novaman386]

I have a 77 nova. It's hard for me to visualize what you're talking about but as i understand it the chrome bots are your problem. What about trying to drill them out? Then replace them with stainless. I;m assuming when you got the bumper you didn't get the shocks attached from the sounds of it. But i bet you could drill them out.

[ortamenxs]

Yep no shocks on it, they are already on my car. I'm going to upload a pic of the back of the bumper. I'm probably going to have to drill them, and go with the stainless steel bolts . . . unless I come up with an ingenious idea . . . the kind the wife hates.

[Holder350]

I have always hates bumper bolts....if they start to spin then the only option is cutting/grinding or a nut splitter.