fire wall does not match frame

[wbs]

hello again- it is very hard for the nice repliers to help me think things out when i fail them.
i notice in the frame an approx 7/16 hole slightly posterior [1" back] to the engine mounts. i notice that there is a very heavy [5/16 thick] metal anngle on the front lateral base of the cowl with a 7/16" hole.

when i move the cowl forward wth the fire wall closer to the engine such that the two holes line up, the clutch ,brake,foot throttle pedal all hve enuf room to actuate.

when i examine the rails, i can see that they have welds in them making me think they were shortened

final ques= should the hole in frame be bolted to the heavy duty hole in the base of the cowl? in other words moveing cowl and fire wall just maybe 3or so inches from the indentation in thefw?
if true, i should have seen this days ago. thanks to all
sorry, wife no t back with camera