OK, I see you did not use the clips at all and you did not use bolts, screws, or any other fasteners. All those empty narrow slits in the photos of your firewall cover are where the clips are supposed to be. If it stays put, then who needs the clips anyway.
Now that I think of it some more, I may remove all the "alligator" clips and use machine screws, washers and nyloc nuts. I think this approach will help stop water and sound migration into the cab from the holes in the firewall that accept the alligator pins.
