03/04 Nismo front bumper install

Tools:

Screwdrivers
10mm socket
Ratchet
10"+ socket extension
Drill
Various drill bits
Needle nose pliers
Small hand saw
Tin snips or heavy duty scissors
Small adjustable wrench
Floor jack
Jack stands

Useful tools, but not required:

Panel clip removal tool

Materials:

Role of painters tape
4 small bolts and nuts

Time required: ~3 hours

Support the car
1) Jack up the front of the car and support it with jackstands

Splash guard removal
1) Using the 10mm socket and ratchet, remove the numerous bolts holding on the lower central splash shield.

2) Using the 10mm socket and ratchet, flathead screwdriver, Phillips head screwdriver, and the panel removal tool (if you have one), remove the 10mm bolts, plastic clips, and Phillips head screw that attach the wheel well splash guards.

Corner lamp removal
1) Using a flathead screwdriver, pry the corner lamp out from the corner lamp frame and remove the bulb.

Grill
1) Lift the hood and remove the plastic clips attaching the grill and bumper cover to the "fiber composite" cross frame member.

Bumper cover removal
1) Using the painters tape, protect your fender because when the bumper cover comes off, the metal corner lamp frames will still be attached to the cover and could scratch your fender.



2) From the wheel well area peering up behind the corner lamp frames, use a 10mm socket and long extension to remove the two screws attaching bumper cover to the fender. The picture below shows the screws, the furthest screw is a bit fuzzy in the picture.



3) With a helper, slide the old cover off and place it on a clean sheet for which to work on.

Modifications:
1) Below the aluminum bumper, remove the two air ducts that force air into the radiator. The Nismo bumper has these ducts built in. The ducts are attached with three plastic clips. On the passenger side, the side plastic clip is accessible from behind the windshield washer reservoir and below the car. See picture below of the driver's side air duct (it's the part with the gray/green foam).



2) On the outside edges of the aluminum bumper, you will see a 1"X1" square stock aluminum guard attached with two rivets. This guard will need to be removed as the lower 1" portion of the guard impedes the install of the Nismo bumper. Using an adequately sized drill bite, drill out the rivets. You may need to access the rear of the rivets from the side of the bumper and saw off the rear of the rivet like I did. This is where the small handsaw comes in.

Guard still in place:



Guard removed:



3) On the OEM bumper cover, drill out the two rivets attaching the corner lamp frames to the bumper cover.

4) Take the corner lamp frames and install them on the Nismo bumper with the four small bolts and nuts. Make sure to use bolts that only have about ~1/8" to 3/16" tall heads. The heads need to be flush with the bumper cover when they're installed. A dab of Locktite on the threads is a safe measure. Below are a couple of pictures with the new bolts installed.





Nismo bumper cover install

1) Transfer the grill onto the new bumper. Take your time and a pair of pliers will help with this.

2) Transfer the numerous metal screw clips from the OEM bumper onto the Nismo bumper.

2) Wrap the corner lamp assemblies with painters tape

3) With a helper, carefully and slowly fit the bumper cover.

4) With the helper supporting the cover, attach the 10mm screws that attach the bumper cover to fenders. Don't fully torque the screws until you're sure the bumper cover fitment is acceptable.

4) Reinstall grill clips

5) Reinstall the wheel well splash guards. Depending on the length of bolt you used to attach the corner lamp frames, you may need to cut the splash guard slightly so that the guard will tight and flush near the bolt closest to the wheel well. See picture below of tiny area where I needed to trim the guard.



6) Reinstall the lower central splash shield


Before:



After:

 

nice job dave! glad you took my advice on the bolt and nuts, that exactly how mine looked and the bumper looks sexy! now those remaining 03-04 sedan owners can know to hurry up and upgrade too!

 

You should have had this earlier =) ...

I was installing it by myself in a cold night and it wasn't a pretty job, it took me like 4 hours to get everything done properly

 

Is this pretty much the same instructions for a coupe?

 

looks nice

 

where can you get a panel removal tool?

 

I just got the Nismo bumper due to my aftermarket fiberglass piece of **** bumper cracking and falling apart.
Now I discovered that I am missing sidemarker brackets on both sides and also missing bumper foam energy absorber. Can you guys fill me in if I need all these pieces or can i get by without ?
Thank in advance

 

Not to bring up a dead thread or anything, but I have the same issue as this guy, any idea where to get this from?

 

Why does the guard need to be drilled out?

 

It extends down too far & prevents the bumper from going in place.
On mine, I cut off the bottom 1" so that it was flush with the bottom of the beam,
instead of removing it entirely.

 

Thanks Ian, appreciate it

 

Dude thanks for the write up.. Now I know why my bumper won't fit correctly. Its because of those damn aluminium guard things. Now i have to take the bumper off again haha.