Upper windshield cowl - windshield hinge replacement

[ChickenLegs]

I removed the rusted hinge from the windshield and plan to replace with stainless. My question is with the upper cowl at the place where the windshield hinge mounts. My cowl had what looked like a strip of metal spot welded at the place where the windshield hinge mounts. There wasnt much left of it, so I'm unsure what it looked like originally. It seems this piece of metal is a stiffener for the windshield hinge to mount to. Judging by the pics of a replacement cowl, the stiffener piece is not there. Could this be a previous repair for the upper cowl, or?

Pics show the ribbon of metal left that I removed:

https://ibb.co/k3cYpVJ
https://ibb.co/7r1PCpQ

 

[BUCKWILD]

Looks lik to e what used to be the old hinge to me but I have only had pre 68 broncos and bolt on hinges so i may not be the best source for info

 

[m_m70]

looks like the bottom part of the hinge to me as well ('69 and after that would be spot welded). What year is your truck and what did the rusted hinge look like that you removed?? Be interesting to see a pic of the hinge you took off....