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They are the same upon visual side-by-side inspection. I looked at both a few minutes ago. Will post a pic of both pans together if u need one.

I wouldn't weld the donor tapping plate. Just use the existing two spot weld holes (u must have cut them with a drill) and put a couple of small self tapping screws or bolts to hold the tapping plate.
That is in the DEEP DRAW of the pan and the metal gets VERY thin due to the stamping process.

Instead of replacing the tapping plate just drill (using succesively larger drill bits) to the next metric or fractional plug size. That way u do not have to remove the pan Grease the end of the drill bit each time to capture the chips. It's EZ to Magnetize the drill bit too if u want to. I've used this process many many times on various similar situations.

Do u absolutely - positively HAVE to have an original Packard drain plug at that point for some reason??? If so, i'd like to know why.

Keith, yes, I could drill and tap to the next larger size, 11/16 or 3/4 and then search for a copper washer to fit as a seal. I do not choose to do that. A machinist friend says he has the proper drill bit, heli-coil tap and helicoil and will be dropping it off today. I can buy a good used oil pan from Mike D. for what they want for the heli-coil kit and bit.
I am going to try the heli-coil. If that doesn't work I will try to replace the bung. If that doesn't work I will buy a pan from Mike.
What is the difference between 55 and 56 oil pans? Does anyone know?
YFAM

As far as I know, just a couple of dimples in one of the years, that wasn't present on the other. I DO know that a Hudson pan will NOT work at all!

The (56?) pan has a flat stamped at 45 degrees at the very front of the pan. (55?) is simply rounded. I've not yet determined which pan is which in terms of years. My 56 very original Exec has the flat at the front of the pan.
Also, at the front of the pan is a reenforcement strap across the two front most bolts. In some pans it is spotwelded to the pan. On my 56 Exec pan it is held in place by the bolts. Supposedly, there is a LATE 56 pan with a subtle expansion at the rear most corner to accomodate the plug for the pressure relief valve of the pump.
I have one of each pan described above EXCEPT the alleged LATE 56 pan.