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Control panel fabricated.

Basically laid it out on some scrap 18ga sheet metal I had left over from the rust repair. It's basically a rectangular box with a slanted front. The sides were folded in, and tack welded on inside. Then I completely welded the front seam and ground it down.

Holes were drilled for the switches. They are set a little low so the switch graphics and labels can go above, similar in the picture below.

Still need to do a little more metal finishing and probably some high build primer and some sanding to smooth everything before painting dash color. The last few pictures you can see it with the cole hersee switches installed and I used Packard radio knobs which fit over the switch shaft perfectly. Used a pair of vice-grips to hold it under the dash for test fit.

Also need to run a buffer over of the knobs to clean them up. They were in my parts pile.

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you do such nice fabrication, Kev! Merry Christmas!

Not too shabby! Do you have a more decorative ring nut instead of the utility hex to hold the switches in the front? If not and you are interested, McMaster has standard NEF 3/8-32 ring dress nuts in zinc plated steel for $2.75 ea. According to Cole Hersee switch specs they should fit.mcmaster.com/#91843a109/=pys0d5

Hard to see in the pic, but those front hex nuts are chrome plated and have a nice rounded front that hugs the shaft pretty closely. If you look at the picture with the switches in the pulled out position, you can see the nut better.

I'll figure out which nut looks best once I get past the paint stage.

All and all, I think it came out pretty good for a few hours in the garage and not having a proper metal bender. The corners are pretty rounded, but actually complement the contours of the dash nicely.

Anyone know which of these two fans is correct for a 53/54 with A/C?

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Believe the 5 blade is standard fan for the 356 engine. On either, check the center hole size to see which will fit over the pilot on your pump hub. If both the same or both will fit, then I would go with the 6 blade.

No big deal, but I don't think that 5 blade is from a 356 (p/n 334513). The 356 fan has a larger hole for the hub, the blades aren't notched, the blades are shaped differently, and the rivet configuration is different.
356 fan:


I wonder if it's a pre-war "Extra capacity" fan?

You're right. I totally goofed on the 356 ID. Can't tell the size of that smaller hole but wonder if that is a Packard fan. Even the junior engines had an odd size but fairly good sized hole. One of the reasons a readily available brand X high capacity fan won't just bolt on and utilize the pilot without specially made adapters.

Both fans fit the hub and bolt pattern on a '53 waterpump.

So...which is correct for an A/C car? Maybe one is for a commercial vehicle?

If the 6 blade moves more air, then I guess the 6 blade it is.

Also interesting how the 5 blade fan has notches cut out of the blades and the 6 blade one doesnt.