bought a new dash pad, issues with A/C hardware.

[Mattchu60]

I got a new vinyl replacement dash pad from Dashes Direct. I realize that the new dash pads need some trimming so I have been slowing carving away spots to make the A/C trim fit like it should. I have it where it sits flush against the pad now. The problem I am having is that the new pad must be "thicker" through the area vs my old pad - I have no issues getting the nuts on the plastic threads where there is no A/C vent tubes, but where the two pieces bolt to the rear of the pad, there is simply not enough length to get the nuts to grab on. One of the threads stems is long enough on each side, the other two are not.

Anyone else had this issue? There is really nothing left to trim so I am pretty stumped.