Black&Blue

Hey, I understand that the passenger side shocks are harder to remove because it usually requires dropping the gas tank, but I cannot figure out how to get to the upper bolts of the housing/shield/cover on the driver's side bumper shocks? Would cutting it (or the whole shock) be easiest? Sidenote: The fin on the back of the car that flushes the rear end to the bumper -- how does this come off? (Looks like small welds maybe?) Thanks!