All the tools, Torx bits and crappy weather rolled in over the last week and it's been too cold in the garage to comfortably work.
This morning I decided enough is enough and went to the cold garage to see how much progress I could make. I quickly found out the Impact driver was just that and snapped off what was supposed to be a high impact #27 Torx bit! So, I put the impact driver down, got my ratchet handle, adapter, and another high impact Torx bit. This one didn't snap! It just twisted like a Dairy Queen soft serve ice cream cone!
Enough of this nonsense! Grabbed the drill and a bit and went to work drilling off the bolt heads. Pop! Off came number one! Drill some more and Pop! Off came number two! Drill some more and, well you get the picture! With the bolt heads all removed, the bracket and filter slipped right off with no problem.
Here's where it gets wierd. I was able to wiggle one bolt before I locked the vise grips on it. Tried to turn it with my fingers and it came right out! Tried the other two. Yep, came right out. Just a hint of the white Harley wax thread coating on each one.
Somewhere between the filter and the bracket, these bolts were bound up so tight it was twisting and snapping the Torx bits!
Now, as soon as we need to make the "essential" trip for groceries, Lowe's is right next door and I'll slip over there to get hex or allen head bolts to replace the ones I drilled out.
Thanks to all for the encouragement and suggestions.
BTW, the only thing I "broke" were the Torx bits and the bolts I drilled out! Amazing