Installing cowl lights

[PaddyR]

I am installing cowl lights on a 1931 Model A Ford pickup. The mounting brace was installed by the factory with the hole drilled to accept the cowl lamp arm.
The gas tank/cowl clamp is preventing me from positioning the cowl light wood block in the mounting brace. Does the gas/cowl clamp need to be removed to slide the wood block into position? And then replaced. Anyone who has installed cowl lights please advise.