I take mine off about every six months or so to paint it. I take off the deflectors to paint the grill. the trick is...let your paint cure for 2-3 days before putting it all back together and re-installing it back on the car. I put my delfectors back on because there are lines behind them. If a rock, moving at 80 MPH or faster...or a bird...which has happened to me before at 120 MPH in Montana, hits that plastic grill, it breaks easily. I have had to replace mine twice because of these reasons. The plastic deflectors behind the grill helps to protect those lines (a/c, coolant & oil cooling) from damage. To me it's worth the extra pain in the A** to put them back on and re-install them properly. The grill only cost's 30 bones or so for replacement. The lines will cost much more.
AND YES...it's a pain to put them back in and get the top clips on. The best way is to leave the bottom 2 screws out, bend the plastic with your hand (wear thin gloves to protect your hands) use needlenose pliers to place the clip on the plastic lips (the 2 parts you clip together to hold the grill in) then use a long flathead screwdriver to pry the clip on using leverage. Then re-install screws.
as for the clips, go back to the Ford dealer, make sure he's looking at the SVT LOWER FRONT GRILL and there will be attaching harware listed for the grill. They are listed as clips and look nothing like the originals but work well, actually better. I'm not sure of the part number, but i'll get it for U if needed.
Just thought I'd give you another point of view. any more questions, just ask
rainshdw
