just got my car back from the body shop. turns out there was more damage to my car then i thought but not from my little bump i had. apparently the car has been rear ended before i bought it. the crash bar is broken and the body is pushed in about 3/4 inch. so i have the new bumper cover on now but will be dropping it back off with them some time soon to have the rest fixed properly. they said they can pull the body back out and can get a new crash bar but they need to have it for 2 days. at least i found a new job, working at a transmission shop now so i might be able to get the inside scoop on maxima transmissions from the transmission builder i work with. maybe figure out what the weak points are.
