Panel below the tailgate - how to install right?

[msg]

Years ago I dismantled the 66 and during the bed removal I was unbolting panels and found that that panel that sits below the tailgate is welded on in 2 spots on each side..or at least mine was.

I have been sandblasting and repainting and will hopefully someday be reassembling. Before that day though I wondered if I need to weld it back together in those spots before I paint? The panel is on its own now sandblasted and has epoxy primer, needing 2k next. Whats the right way to go about this?

Here is a pic from 2015 when I tore it down