Cowl vent delete?

Not sure where to put this but I figured maybe some other guys with race cars are in this boat?

I'm thinking about removing my cowell vents and wiper holes as they leak water into the car. (No heater or wipers)

Any one do something like this? Will it look super weird?

I can make the panel on the English wheel then flange the surrounding cut so the new panel sits flush and weld it in or just pop rivet aluminum over the vent and weld up the wiper holes?

Thoughts? Pics if you've already done it?

Thanks for the time and advice.