More from original poster...
I forgot to mention this "clearance" problem is about 1/8 inch.,
and would involve removing the metal floor of the drive bay
(not possible for other reasons), OR raising ALL the drives 1/8 inch.
That "could" actually be done, but I would have to "punch"
out all the drive mounting bracket holes and use only the
lower holes with oversized washers (letting the drives rise).
Since it is impossible to mount drives in the lower bay,
I never got to the point of putting the plastic face back on
and filing it out as Drew suggested.
As it looks now, the plastic WOULD fit if all the drives were
raised about 1\8 inch. (I have a big gap at the top of the
three top drives in these bays.)
Seems like this metal drive bay sub assembly, (part #11)
may? have been "drifting out of spec." for awhile at the
sheetmetal "punching plant".
Never a dull moment.            Rick Glazier

                  Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
               articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
                  http://nospin.com - http://nospin.org