Removing front header panel?
 

I tried to take off the header panel (what I'm calling the piece between the headlights, with the badge on it) yesterday with no luck what-so-ever. It seems like the panel is bonded to the car where the hood meets it - even with the screws out, I couldn't pry the thing off, or even move it!

I need to get into the backside of the bumper so I can take off the license-plate bracket mounting bolts, which for some reason beyond my comprehension don't have a captured-nut setup.

Why not just remove the bumper, 2 bolts from under side?:confused:

Did you remove the 2 screws by the head lights?

Yes, depending on what year your car is, non-turbo & non s2's the bumper removes very easily - there are two bolt holes on the bottom of the bumper. Un-do those and the bumper slips right off. There are two plugs for the blinkers.

Vern

+1 on the removing the whole bumper thing, but i'd also like to know how to remove the header panel as i'm going to need to repaint it (darn you rocks!!!). when i last tried i removed the bumper and the four screws from the top, but there were two on the very ends of the panel i couldn't get to...i think they were the last two

pictures
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1207598923.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1207598962.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1207598990.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1207599013.jpg

Ok, I did miss a few, though I'm not sure how I'd have gotten to them anyhow. But I'm still confused as to why it was fused to that brace between the headlights...

At any rate, I should be able to accomplish what I need dropping the whole bumper.

Thanks!

The nose panel is spot welded onto the body for pre '85.5 cars.

It felt like it, but I couldn't detect any spot welds... They must have been covered by paint enough to hide them I guess. Seems kind of pointless too... I mean, why put the screws in if it's spot welded? And god forbid anyone ever needed to take the panel off...

Jon, is right. The early cars have the nose piece spot welded on. Not only is it welded on the top but the bottom as well. You will need to take the bumper off to safely get at the lower spot welds.

You will need to remove the rubber insert in front of the headlights. Theree is 1 screw on each side of the panel that you need to remove. Use a 1/4 drive ratchet with a u-joint to remove the screws. You will need to drill out the spot welds. It's not a difficult job but a tedious one. There are many spot welds.



The newer nose panels have holes for screws. I replaced my original nose panel with one for a later model. It fits up very well.

Anyone know what is holding this on? i have all the scrws out but something is hilding it on still. end near headlight

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1207599013.jpg

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there are 4 nuts, 2 each side under that rubber that the head lights rest on.
You can see the slots in that picture, did you remove them?