Saw this yesterday. Just finished. Sick, sick, sick!
Did you ever think of making a front flip hood? Would have gotten rid of your hinges and opened up space for under dash stuff. I'm sure most think it was a stock British thing and think nothing of it.
Two more thoughts:
engine turned instrument panel
Take a rectangle sheet of metal. Run 2 bead rolls, one 1/2" from edge, one 2" from that one. Inside center rectangle put a bunch of louvers. Replace the ugly plastic piece on the engine.