Russian distributor

[fried okra]

I have a distributor that has been labeled with a piece of tape as "Russian distributor".

It has the condenser in the original lower body of the unit (not on top plate) and looks similar or identical to me as a standard Ford USA dizzy.

Does any one know or have a guess as to any differences with the Russian labeled one I've got and whether it is a direct replacement to use as a spare?

[Bob C]

Maybe a GAZ.

[fried okra]

It might have come off a GAZ engine but the one I have does not have a modern cap like the one in the pic.

[fried okra]

Did a GAZ engine use a standard USA Ford Model A distributor maybe?

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by fried okra

Did a GAZ engine use a standard USA Ford Model A distributor maybe?

Somewhere I've seen a comparison of the Model A and GAZ product.

I thought I might look through Vince Falter's most excellent site which has a fair amount on GAZ - but not finding.

Maybe it's hidden in a couple of the videos that appear? Other links are there but you can start at...

https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/Rus...evelopment.htm


Joe K

[Joe K]

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If one google's "GAZ distributor" and filters off all the "gas distributor" listings (just google trying to be "helpful"), one comes to MANY GAZ Russian automobile distributors.

There seems to be an active auto parts trade in this. Much like the US with Mallory and all the others.

As I'm not that familiar with the product line of Pre-War Russia, perhaps someone could look through the results and pick out the variant that is of interest?

Here is one...

https://en.avtoclassika.com/car/gaz-21/483/170347/

Joe K

[AzBob]

Wow, that one even has vacuum advance diaphram.


Screen Shot 2024-01-07 at 11.50.08 AM.jpg

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by AzBob

Wow, that one even has vacuum advance diaphram.

Somewhere I read that was "standard."

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/16...nition-timing/

Reading the link above one is struck by the "fuel conservation" aspect of vacuum timing changes - a desirable feature in a protracted war.

Joe K

[fried okra]

The distributor that i have with a piece of tape with Russian written on it looks exactly like the two other US Model A distributors I have......circa 1931 or 1932 maybe if it is indeed a Russian distributor.

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by fried okra

The distributor that i have with a piece of tape with Russian written on it looks exactly like the two other US Model A distributors I have......circa 1931 or 1932 maybe if it is indeed a Russian distributor.

There are those who have studied the "factory markings" of various Model A parts. Likely including the distributor.

Steve Plucker comes to mind. Steve has forgotten more about the Model A than I likely ever knew - and he's been gracious enough to "leave his trail of bread crumbs" for the rest of us to follow. Check out his Index to articles in the various magazines which address the distributor. Its a pretty general list. The Distributor stuff begins on page 72.

If you find an article that might be of interest and don't seem to have access to it - try "googling" the title - you may find it out there in "uncontrolled-land" on the Internet.

http://www.plucks329s.org/pdf/parts/...riginality.pdf

Joe K

[Brad in Germany]

If it is an original Russian cast GAZ-A/AA distributor body, then it should be a direct replacement / clone for the US made one, just the Russian castings are typically a little more crude/rough.

For comparison, here is a photo of the Russian GAZ-A/AA distributor page from a GAZ-A/AA parts book:

....and from a Russian GAZ-A/AA service manual:


....and from a different Russian GAZ-A/AA service manual:


So, yeah, you should be able to drop it in your US Ford Model A engine and it should work just like the US made distributor body.

Brad in Maryland

[Benson]

Post #6:

Very unlikely that this store exists anymore!

Really a sad deal!

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Benson

Post #6:

Very unlikely that this store exists anymore!

Really a sad deal!

Yes, I pulled this up as "example" of the trade - not expecting the trade would be "past trade."

And not to let this thread go "political." Life is still pretty nice for some in Ukraine.

One expects as the Russian GAZ "matured" - they found "improvements" to be made along the way - just as Henry would have if he didn't have to deal with marketplace acceptance.

The Model T was where Henry wanted to be - top of the heap and put there by volume production and outpricing his competition. Either by controlling his supply lines, or his output, or attempting to control his market. "Style" to Henry was just a business overhead.

The "flivver" jokes were free publicity to Henry. Until they weren't.

Joe K

[Brad in Germany]

Originally Posted by Benson

Post #6:

Very unlikely that this store exists anymore!

Really a sad deal!

They are still open for business (just to the north of Kiev) and are thankful for the support of the US and other NATO countries (without who's support they would most likely be closed.)

They also have a Germany based partner company who are, of course, also open for business: https://www.sowjetautos.de

....unfortunately neither one sells GAZ-A/AA distributor parts. But no worries, the US Ford Model A distributor parts should fit the GAZ-A distributor with no issues. The original GAZ-A/AA parts were made from the Ford blue prints sent by Ford to Russia.

Brad in Maryland

[fried okra]

Group, this is a very good dialogue.

Thanks.

[Bud]

I personally would like to know more about the GAZ-21 distributor with vacuum advance (retard) as pictured above. Or at the least a US equivalent.

[katy]

Here's a thread about using a Honda distributor:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244492