Sd.Kfz.222 and Sd.Kfz.223 Ausf.A – Horch V8 3,5 Litre Cylinder Head - Part 2 - Inside Track | Renault TSF Tank Kent

Our previous article titled ‘Differences’ outlined our discovery, within our collection, of two different types of cylinder head. These Horch V8 cylinder heads are quite unique in that they are a 4-piece (split head) configuration and quite different to the usual 2-piece cylinder head set up normally found on a Horch 3,5 litre V8 and the later V8 3,8 litre variant. We also highlighted our discovery that there were 18mm and 14mm spark plug port versions. See the attached image from a period manual showing the engine with the 'split head' cylinder heads fitted. The reasons for the 2 different types of ‘split head’ cylinder heads are clear when we research the small print in our original Horch documentation. Our work in deciphering the various Horch V8 engines to determine which parts can be used in the 3,5 litre V8 rebuild provided us with a bonus. Within the “Instandsetzung fur Horch-Kfz” we find under Zundkerzen (sparkplugs) – the Horch 801 ( 3,5 liter V8) is specified with the M18 x 1.5 Zundkerzen bis Motor Nr. 810359 (up to motor number) and ab (from) Motor Nr. 810360 the M14 x 14 Zundkerzen. The second image is of the 18mm spark plug port head. . Looking at something as tedious as a spark plug detail can tell us which Serie the split head would come from. The “Instandsetzung fur Horch-Kfz” and the records from the period tell us that the first 332 armoured cars from Werk Horch assembly lines used the 18mm sparkplugs and therefore, the earlier split cylinder head. This 18mm split head cylinder head configuration ended within 1937. From a historical perspective this is exciting as it shows that this configuration of engine was only used for the 1 Serie cars. As can be seen in Panzer Tracts No.13-1 this equates to 143 of the Sd.Kfz.221, 72 of the Sd.Kfz.222 and 117 of the Sd.Kfz.223 (Total 322) that were delivered to the Wehrmacht from 1935 to 1937. Additionally, a further 18 1 Serie were exported to China so we can assume that there were 9 of these engines spare. The Ausf.A armoured cars being restored by the Foundation that require the 3,5 litre engine are in 3 Serie and 4 Serie so these engines will be fitted with the 14 mm spark plug. The last image is the later 14mm (black) cylinder head we discovered recently, and which was covered in our last piece. See attached photo.

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