What solutions have folks come up with for replacing the stock speednut thingies that hold the lettering on the engine grill and the grill work itself for that matter?

The speednuts are fairly common, most hardware stores stock them. I think I got mine at Lowes. Just take a letter with you for sizing.

I took a P.

The actual proper factory nuts are steel encapsulated in rubber. The part number starts 999 507 and is the same push on used to hold the grille together. There is a common nut used in the aftermarket that attaches with a socket.

I found a common nut at the hardware store which would fit snuggly on the post then got the die for that nut and tapped the posts to accept the nuts. To finish, I painted the nuts black.

Spoke

ordered mine from local dealer