Early A Body Windshield Wiper: cowl seal or no seal?

Its not exactly a seal there, just a fat filler. The pivot post may not be centered in the outer hole where 2 pieces of stamped metal are welded together, so they gave themselves a lot of tolerance. The water tight sealing is at the bottom of the pivot or inner piece of stamped metal.
If those collars deteriorated and fell into the cowl they may be adding to drain blockage.