I realize all that, I've turned plenty of wrenches in my day.
What I'm saying is that the nut isn't coming easily, it'* fighting me with every turn. It loosened up a tad, it'* getting very hard to put much torque on it because the bolt is hard to keep straight and now with all the rubber in between, with the wrench on the bottom whilst trying to turn the nut on top. I think I'm going to have to cut it off and get a new bolt.

The new links kits come with ALL the hardware to install them....Stop wasting your time in trying to loosen it with a wrench & torch it off! Alot of people make this mistake so don't feel bad. At a shop a Tech gets paid on "FLAT RATE" which basically means the quicker he/she can do a job the more money he/she actually makes since it didn't take "BOOK TIME". They're use to cutting corners like torching off bolts/nuts. It'* quicker & less patience is involved. Just thought I would give you a little advice.....that'* my $0.02!