Upper Cowl Crack

[71vert340]

 While working on the 72 Challenger, I noticed a crack in the upper cowl sheet metal. It's about 5 inches long on the drivers side next to the wiper motor mounting area. I have black arrows pointing to it. It doesn't look like it's movement caused but maybe occurred when the sheet metal was stamped. It's above the bulkhead connector. I checked the 71 Challenger hardtop and it has the crack in the same area. I don't want to weld it because it may cause other problems. Anyone else notice this on their cars? I'll have to check the convertible sometime.
Terry W.

[anlauto]

After working 18 years in the stamping Industry, I agree 100% it's likely been there since before day one....been there since the panel was stamped....Won't tell you how many panels we shipped out with splits... some get caught, some don't....Our company had to buy back several "body in whites" after the splits were only found AFTER the painting process.

[71vert340]

 The metal appears to be overlapped in both cars rather than a gap. The paint in the 71 hardtop is not chipped or cracked at the ends of the sheetmetal crack so no movement. I'll be checking the 74 Charger also. Here's a photo of the 71 Hardtop with the arrows on tape pointing up towards the crack.
Terry W.

[jimynick]

Three ways to go here. 1- leave it alone, 2- grind it off and tiger hair it, 3- drill a hole at the end of it and weld it up. If it IS a wrinkle, there's likely enough material to fusion gas weld it and a wee bit off application of a grinder and you'll never know it was there.