I wouldn't use larger diameter screws than 3..4mm, there's almost no force to withstand, and the less material you have to remove the better...
I would also consider the use of self-tapping screws. They seem to produce less debris than tapping a thread in a hole - which is an advantage if you're working on a closed crankcase that you don't want chips of aluminium to fall into..
Also, I would use aluminium sheet instead of steel since it will have the same expansion coefficient as the crankcase, minimizing the chance that it will work itself loose or break the sealant after a number of heat cycles...