Hood Latch brace

[340Challman]

Hey Guys, While working on the resto of my car, after it had been fully media blasted, I wanted to repair some holes that had been put in the hood latch area for a hood lock. I unbolted the latch support that runs from latch area down to the bottom of the core support. When I did that, I was surprised to find what looked like original factory paint under the bolt heads. Was this support installed after the car was painted? What have you guys found when disassembling this support?

If the support was to be painted separately and installed after the rest of the car was painted, then I would like to duplicate that. So let me know what you guys have found.
Thanks.

[340Challman]

So no one has removed this brace and observed what's underneath during their restoration?

[RUNCHARGER]

Sprayed mounted on the car by the factory as I recall.

[headejm]

Like Sheldon said, installed then sprayed body color. Depending on if your color got the blackout treatment, the front of the support would have black paint on it.

[anlauto]

Is this the first time your car has been re-painted ?

[340Challman]

Is this the first time your car has been re-painted ?

Definitely not. I think I counted about 4 different layers of primer/blue, primer/blue.

I just would have thought that the car shell would have been fully assembled before paint. I know that support is only bolted on, not welded, so maybe it got painted separately and bolted on later. That's what I'm trying to determine.

[jimynick]

" so maybe it got painted separately and bolted on later" For the factory, in the 70's to paint that brace, transport it to the car, on time, without damage and then bolt it on and adjust it without damaging either the paint on the rad support or the brace would boggle the imagination. If you haven't already, you will come to note that QC wasn't a large priority back in those days. 

[340Challman]

" so maybe it got painted separately and bolted on later" For the factory, in the 70's to paint that brace, transport it to the car, on time, without damage and then bolt it on and adjust it without damaging either the paint on the rad support or the brace would boggle the imagination. If you haven't already, you will come to note that QC wasn't a large priority back in those days. 

I agree and that's why it seemed so strange to me. I'm going to just assume that it happened at some point in the numerous times it got repainted. Thanks guys.