What is this support bracket in the hatch just above the button?

[fusion]

I am breaking down a 1976 280z to prep for media blasting.  As I was breaking down the hatch, I noticed inside it that there was a bracket in the lower middle, just above the release button.  It's not attached to the outer skin.  It almost looks like there was a piece of foam between it and the sheet metal.  Can anyone shed some light on this?

[jfa.series1]

It appears to be just a support between the two layers of metal. There looks to be residue of a open cell foam pad between the bracket and the outer skin. It was not spot welded to the outer skin as that would have shown on the outside.

Edited July 6, 2021 by jfa.series1

[cgsheen1]

That's the same media they used under the front fenders as support/cushion material in three places. To me it looks like asphalt impregnated cork, but I've only seen 30-40 year old examples and never one in good condition.  These days they use a stiff closed cell foam or a rubber caulk type stuff - look between the hood skin and skeleton on an F31 or S13/14 and you'll see how they've joined the skin with the skeleton with dabs of rubbery interface material. It sticks them together, provides a cushion, and keeps vibration of the sheet metal in check.

Edited July 7, 2021 by cgsheen1

[fusion]

What do most people do when restoring a car?  I'm thinking about welding it and body working it.  

[jfa.series1]

1 hour ago, fusion said:

What do most people do when restoring a car?  I'm thinking about welding it and body working it.  

Weld it and you will surely warp the outer skin all to heck. Why do you think the factory did not do so? Get a piece of 1/8" thick closed cell foam and make a new pad to slip into the gap.

Here's an offer: I have the material and will make up the pad for you. All it will cost me is a stamp.

Edited July 7, 2021 by jfa.series1

[cgsheen1]

52 minutes ago, fusion said:

What do most people do when restoring a car?  I'm thinking about welding it and body working it.  

They welded one side of that support and NOT the other side for a reason.

Find a piece of medium stiff closed cell foam to insert OR get some elastic (non-hardening) panel adhesive to squirt in there.

[fusion]

55 minutes ago, jfa.series1 said:

Weld it and you will surely warp the outer skin all to heck. Why do you think the factory did not do so? Get a piece of 1/8" thick closed cell foam and make a new pad to slip into the gap.

Here's an offer: I have the material and will make up the pad for you. All it will cost me is a stamp.

Sounds great, thanks man.  I'll PM you my address

[inline6]

Interesting... That is a running production change to improve a problem, in my opinion.  240Z rear hatches do not have that bracket, nor any support in that area.  So, the entire outer panel moves inward when you press on the lock button if you are not careful.  I will be making a support for my hatch to eliminate that issue.  It seems that Nissan did the same thing on the later Z.

Edited July 30, 2021 by inline6

[Captain Obvious]

I don't know what year they started putting that support bracket in, but I can tell you it was present on my 3/74 small bumper 260.