Help removing rusted license plate screws

[Clever]

So I have tried PB Blaster, impact wrench and sweat equity and still no luck. I thought it was odd that the old owners didn’t want their license plate when they dropped off the car at my house, turns out they couldn’t remove it either. Any ideas?

[Sentry]

Glws

[killramos]

Liquid wrench + Impact driver?

The head looks in good shape… the impact you used didn’t have enough torque?

[ExtraSlow]

Bet it's screwed into an insert and the insert is spinning. A buddy had a beater with this issue and we just snapped the heads off the screws and used 3m command strips to velcro the new plate on.
Ghetto but worked.

[Darell_n]

If the inserts are loose, just zip the screw heads off with a grinder and attach the plate with new nutserts / rivnuts or jacknuts. Even if you get the old screws out you won't get new ones in properly.

[Clever]

Yep @ExtraSlow , after looking under the trunk liner it looks like it is attached to an insert, impact wrench just spun the screw on the right side.


@Sentry what’s glws?

[firebane]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Yep @ExtraSlow , after looking under the trunk liner it looks like it is attached to an insert, impact wrench just spun the screw on the ride side.


@Sentry what’s glws?

good luck with screw

[ExtraSlow]

If you can get to the back side, vice grips may help secure the insert. If not, grind the head off and knock the insert inwards, then you at least have a clean hole to work with.

[littledan]

Second the vice grips or channel locks on back side w/ impact or drill/driver on the head.

[SJW]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

If you can get to the back side, vice grips may help secure the insert. If not, grind the head off and knock the insert inwards, then you at least have a clean hole to work with.

Everyone would appreciate a clean hole.

[flipstah]

This

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

If the inserts are loose, just zip the screw heads off with a grinder and attach the plate with new nutserts / rivnuts or jacknuts. Even if you get the old screws out you won't get new ones in properly.

[Clever]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I ended up using two vice grips after taking off the trunk liner, the left was just rusted but the original insert was still intact. The one on the right was just a nice clean hole, but they used some kind of a sealer on the screw so I had to remove from the nut/insert.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Busted a nut.
Always a win.

[ExtraSlow]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I ended up using two vice grips after taking off the trunk liner, the left was just rusted but the original insert was still intact. The one on the right was just a nice clean hole, but they used some kind of a sealer on the screw so I had to remove from the nut/insert.

Positive rep for clean hole.

[Clever]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Busted a nut.
Always a win.

Hahaha, yup.