Padded dash install question

[Patrick brophy]

I am working on replacing the cracked a worn out dash pad on my 1957 thunderbird.
The dash was not in the car when I got it, so I am unsure of the correct configuration of a bracket.
Where the dash would fasten to the steering column, on the dash panel there is a bracket that crosses the dash that has two holes to fasten it to the under dast where the column attaches. It is made out of a heavy gauge sheet metal.
On mine, on both sides it appears to be bent symmetrically. I am not sure if this is correct, or if it got bent a some point.
Has anyone had one out , even better, have one out ?