Model B
Model A Ford Garage
Russian GAZ Cylinder Head
Pictured below is a cylinder head from a Russian GAZ Model B. These engines were made from the 1930's to 1950's. In the Roman alphabet GAZ stands for Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, Nizhny Novgorod, translated as Gorky Automobile Plant. In Russian Cyrillic "Го́рьковский Автомоби́льный Заво́д" is shortened to "ГАЗ" (GAZ).
The Soviet Union began producing Model A's in Russia under license from Ford in 1932. These were built in a new plant designed with Ford and operated with advisors from Ford USA. In later years the Russians began producing variants and knockoffs of various Ford, Dodge, Packard, and Autocar products from the 1930's to 1950's.
In the 1960's, Joe McClelland of Ford Parts Obsolete in Long Beach, California imported some containers of new surplus Model A and Model B Russian GAZ parts, and sold these for several years. Undoubtedly that is the source of this head.
The parts photos on this page come courtesy of Lee Thorsell, Bend, Oregon.
As seen on the left in the pic above, this head is sized for 18 mm metric spark plugs, as opposed to the original US inch size of 7/8-18.
The combustion chambers are essentially identical to the US Model B, with the exception of the smaller 18 mm spark plug size. Compression ratio is 4.6:1.
Along with these markings there is a tapped bung hole with a 1/2" pipe plug in the left side of the head that could be used for either a heater or temperature gauge.
1943 GAZ-67
Look familiar? Photo by Piotr Widuchowski
More related "ГАЗ" information on Ford Garage:
- For more Model A & B related information, use the Site Search box at the top or bottom of this page.
- Model B Russian GAZ-67 Model B Development Video
- Model A & B Russian GAZ-67 Engine Start Video
- Model A Russian GAZ-67B Gas Tank & Instrument Panel
- Model B Russian GAZ Valve Cover
- Model A Russian GAZ-AA and ZIS-5 Video
- Model A & B Cylinder Head Nut Recommended Tightening Sequence
- Model A & B Cylinder Head Gasket Guide comprehensive listing
- Model A & B Cylinder Head Compression Ratios
- 1930 Model A Pуководство Instruction Book (Russian)
May 2008