rear bumper/bracket question

[burdar]

I guess I'm wondering what the best order is to assemble the back of a Challenger.....

One of the last things I was going to do was send out the bumpers for rechroming.  I'd planned on having the exhaust installed along with the rear valance before worrying about the bumpers.  I don't remember removing the rear bumper and I can't find the original fastners.(they probably broke durring disassembly)  Do the bolts need to be held with a wrench on the back side or are there clips that lock the bolts inplace?  Do the bolts install from the rear x-member towards the outside....or from the bumper brackets in?  Anyone have pictures of the correct bolts?

I know at the factory the rear valances were installed on the car prior to being painted.  That means the valance doesn't have to be off the car in order to install the rear bumper.  My guess is that the bumpers were on BEFORE the exhaust was bolted to the car though.  Do the mufflers/tips get in the way of installing the bumper bracket bolts?  I assume the bumper needs to be attached to the brackets/inner bumper support FIRST and can't be accessed if the brackets/support are installed onto the car first?

Should I consider getting the bumpers done sooner then I thought so I can get them back on the car before the exhaust is installed?  Thanks

[Chryco Psycho]

this is probably the Only part of the assembly I have not figured out , the bumper is virtually impossible to install with the valance in place & the reverse is also true , I can't figure out the method  I have the valance on first & fought to get the bolts into the bumper .

[burdar]

According to the fastener guide the bolts aren't anything special...just short 7/16" bolts.  It looks like there are some push-on style bolt keepers/locks but they just hold the bolt inplace.(they don't hold it from spinning)  If I had to guess, I think the bolts are installed on the bumper brackets.  The entire assembly was held inplace while someone tightned the nuts from under the car.  It was probably done right before "body drop".  Unless someone has pictures showing the bolts being installed from the x-member to the outside, this is how I'm going to do it. 

I'll have to go see if it looks like the mufflers will be in the way though.  I didn't want to have to get the bumpers done right away but I may have to...the rear one at least.

[dodj]

I don't have any pix, but the bracket bolts on my car were installed from the cross member out towards the rear of the car. No captive nuts or anything, two wrenches to install or remove.
As far as installing, I find bolting on the brackets, then attaching the bumper to the installed brackets the easiest way (valance in place). You still have to be pretty nimble with the fingertips to manipulate the wrench to tighten the nuts. Flex head wrenches help a lot. Masking tape to protect paint and chrome.