I just completed the replacement grill to remove the crash bar. Has anyone ever cut out or removed the plastic pieces (red) that block air flow to the intakes?

 

There's plenty of airflow into the area around the airbox with stock parts. If you are using aftermarket intakes with open filters I could see a benefit to direct fresh air, but in other applications I've setup like that, you can have issues with water soaking the filters when driving in the rain. Might be fixable with a water blocking filter cover, just wanted to mention it.

 

Good poke on the water ... I was thinking of using those water repelling pre filter bags. Or can also make a baffle .. still gets cooler air from the frontal surface area, but diverts to the skid plate.