can't get bolts back in - need ideas

[97XRAY]

I took out the two bolts pointed to in red - only one of which can be seen in the pic - on BOTH front wheel mountings, so 4 total.
When I tried to put the four bolts back in (two on each side) the holes didn't line up any more. I have the driver side nice and snug, lined up perfectly, but the passenger side has one of the two bolts off and the other one okay. The hole that isn't lined up needs to be rotated away from the block, "out," about 1/4 inch. I tried getting the bolt in and pulling the holes into allingment by tightening the bolt... I'll be buying a new bolt today - totally stripped it. I can't move the piece even an eighth of an inch with my legs pushing against it!

Once I saw the stripped bolt I stopped. I'm worried that I'll strip the nut inside the frame.

Any ideas?

[Lawrence Coppari]

Those look like cross member bolts. You may have to lift the engine or at least get its weight off cross member. Is the driver side front wheel on the ground. You might try getting the car off the ground on that side also if it is supporting car weight. Then use a jack on the cross member.

Otherwise, you may have to raise engine unless someone else has a better idea.

[97XRAY]

Coppari: By the time I was trying to get everything back together, neither tire was on, both sides were lifted equally but the engine wasn't jacked - good idea. I'll try it as soon as it stops snowing.
Keep the ideas coming!

[Lawrence Coppari]

Careful where you jack the engine. Lifting by its lugs is better.

[Lawrence Coppari]

Your nut is probably uninjured. Steel used for nuts, especially one that is part of a frame is higher grade than bolt. That way you can wring off or strip the bolt and not hurt the nut - you hope. Good luck with it.