Well... the Top Secret mod failed. :-( The material I used was too thick for this application, so I'm going to try it again with another, thinner material soon. In the meantime, I'll expose the secret.
Here is the piece I ordered:
Next step was to remove the hood:
Then I set down the lines for the cut-out and attachment tab points:
Next, I cut down the grill material to a more manageable and approximate size:
Then, using a template cut from painter's tape, I finished the fine cutting on the grill piece:
All cut down to size:
This is where the problem arose, the material was too thick, and alignment was a major problem with the holes and getting clean lines:
So, that's where I am right now. My next step is to get a thinner piece of sheet aluminum and cut it to the exact size I want and put the holes in it AFTER I have a clean shape and install. I'll keep everyone updated on this as it happens, lol.