1984 300CD. US

I was going to take off one of the pieces that holds the auxiliary fan in place. It is held in place by a bolt that goes into the cross member that the hood latch is mounted to. I can't get the bolt out because of the plastic piece underneath the hood latch. (Right where the plaque with all of the codes is mounted. Does anyone know what this plastic piece is for and how to remove it? The four large Phillips head screws seem to be VERY tight.