Hopefully I'll be better able to answer your question when I return. The ZIS-110 ambulance is serving as a parts donor for the limo, and I understand that there are stashes of OEM ZIS parts here and there in Russia and other places. Of course getting head gaskets made is not a problem, though not necessarily cheap, as long as you have a pattern.

The picture from the same magazine article provides a bit of a comparison of the ZIS head (right) to a Packard 356 head.

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Here's another question to ponder:

Where does the Swede get his Zis parts from????? THings like head gaskets. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Golly Gee, i wonder!.

Is this the seal you are describing? This is what mine looked like during disassembly.

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If someone makes a cardboard patern of a Packard head or top of block (even just the front 2 or rear 2 cylinders) and sent it to someone with a ZIS to lay on their head or block would certainly negate the interchangeablity of parts or command a further investigation.

JB Weld is great stuff for some applications, but I think a better choice is to use silver solder to close the hole.

The 1/2 inch difference is block length means one thing for sure, head gaskets and cylinder heads DO NOT interchange.

well at least i am not the only one that repaired their's the same way. the hole in mine i believe may have already been there on that one cup....but most likely i did it while tapping them out. dang.....well at least i got it back together and it does work now, but i think i should try to locate a new cup without a hole in it.

jb weld, the company, may know what would happen in hot tranny fluid. i know if sounds kinda jacked up to use it, but it would fill the hole in and hold the piece at the same time ;0)...and i doubt i can just run to the autozone for this part LOL...so i may have to do what i can to make it work. thanks for the great pictures they are way better than my camera phone!

" I'm told the engine block is about ? longer and thus such parts as blocks, cylinder heads, head gaskets, crankshafts, manifolds, camshafts, etc. do not interchange. Apparently deep..."

The 1/2 inch increase in block length means nothing. Center-to-Center of the cylinder bores is important. Even still, with 8 cylinders and a 1/2 inch difference means only 1/16 wider spacing on the cylinders. NOT desireable for parts interchange but probably no hill for a stepper to overcome, especialy for any German, Russian or even Limey gerry-rigg eng'ring. I don't know

Owen wrote: 'Hopefully I'll learn what that odd item is on the engine right side above the oil pump, and will report back here in as ...'

AC connexions maybe???? Maybe block heater connexions. Ask if any of the Zis's had fuel fired air conditioning. I'd be most interested in learning the details of such and AC system.

I have some of the Strip Caulk too. I think it's made by 3M but came out of a GM supplier. The strip caulk hardens over 2 or 3 years.
Strip Caulk IT IS NOT Dum-Dum!!!

I have some Dum-Dum here in my shop that dates back into the late 50's maybe earlier. It's still soft. The many things i have put it on operating under severe conditions for over 20 years STILL SOFT.