I have a plate forward of the nose gear that has nutplates, screws on each side fo the slot hold it on.
I experimented with the plate in and out. If anything, plate out might provide a touch more engine cooling air exit area in the summer. Plate in I could not tell any TAS change.
I finally ended up with the plate out, but a short piece of 0.063 angle going across the slot new the aft end just to tie together the fiberglass on each sid of the slot.
Make the slot big enough so getting the bottom cowl off is not hard.
Carl