Damn stripped bolts on headlights (S13)

[Rikter]

Hey Folks,

Hopefully someone can help me out here. I have an '89 S13 with an H4 conversion on the headlights. I need to take the chrome retainers off the headlights but in my haste I managed to strip two of the four bolts....the lower ones. What a bitch! They are hard to get at as the bumper is right there and the opening between the bottom of the headlight and the bumper is really tiny. I can't even get my hands in there either.

Anyone have any suggestions? Can the headlights be unbolted from the mechanism that tilts them open/close so I can maybe tilt them further back to get more room to access the stripped bolts? I have no idea what kind of tool to get in there to try to get 'em out.

Help?
-Rik

[zugoi]

Just take the two top screws off and bend the chrome bracket open slowly and replace housing or whatever. Same thing happen to me,but i know eventually the tabs on the corners will break but what can i do.

[downshift_sideways]

Take the bumper off.
and you get the bolts with ease.

[soreballz]

^^Thats waaaay harder than simply using VICE GRIPS. lol

[g6civcx]

I had that problem with my popups. The bolts are exposed so they rust really easily. Plus they're tiny so they're easy to strip.

I was able to reach under the bumper and grab them with vice grips. If not you'll have to disassemble the front bumper.

[Rikter]

Thanks for the replies.. yeah I kinda don't want to take the front bumper off haha. I'll try undernearth to get the screws and if that fails... I might go the break bottom tabs route lol. It takes an hour just to get my car on the hoist at work! damn lowered cars with lip kits hah.
-Rik

[Xandy Boosts]

Same thing happened with me. Jack up the front of the car so that it's easier to get under there, spray some liquid wrench then take some vice grips and go to town. Good luck

[jim1234664]

just bend it down, put the new light in and bend it up np.