ah, thats why one should get a dremil or rotary tool

i have an old case just like that with the ghetto front fan mount that is worthless. cept i cut a bigger hole through the metal so i could mount directly to the plastic. i sliced and diced the case until it was well ventilated
i'm impressed you actually got through the metal with wire cutters, i tried, and it was too hard.
if you want to look at it
http://fox302.com/index.pl?s=vg&user=oroooroo&category=cases
added 2 92mm stealth vantecs, and 2 80mm vantecs, 1 led fan. decided it was a dust monster, taped 1" washable furnace filter to the outside with masking tape. it catches enough dust that i have to the filters once a week. so it doubles as an air filter

its refreshed a case that used to house a p2 400 when that chip cost 600+ dollars!