RE: San Jose Examples...
1.) So painted BODY COLOR while bolted to the A-pillar?
2.) Was semi-gloss black found on brackets prior to bolting to the A-pillar?
3.) Was spray-on Seam sealer applied OVER the inside edge/bolt as seen in the image of the O.P.?
I might warn you and others that if you have Spectrum in this area you might have to break out a chisel in order to whack at the Spectrum to get this bracket to fit.
There is a lot of paint in this area. Red oxide, black on bracket, then primer, exterior paint and then possibly black when you paint the front clip semi-gloss.
One of the reasons I asked is that (unlike factory) I want paint under the hinges. I'm also going to do the under-floor paint overspray with primer, single stage exterior color and then blackout.
The exterior side of the pinch weld and other areas will be covered with paper.
Later, my painter will tape off behind the pinch weld and paint the car without trying to do the overspray the way I want.
After the paint is complete we do just the outside blackout of the pinch weld.