96 355 body panel question

Hey guys, got a bad chip on my hood (too big for touch up paint). It's on metal strip on the top of the inlet for the a/c. I opened the hood, thinking it would be a simple unscrew type deal....nope, of course not...looks to me like there is a shroud riveted around it. Has anyone ever had to take this part off for painting before. I suppose I could get the whole hood painted but that wouldnt get the job done very well and be alot of painting for nothing. Am I missing something. I looked pretty closely and I'm 99% positive they are rivets..unless they are all stripped out hex heads-lol. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Again, it's a 355 gts (96) and I'm talking about the long metal top to the inlet to the a/c on the hood. Thanks in advance to all.