Do-it-yourself Niva 4x4 tuning: how to transform a great car

"VAZ-2121" has very good driving characteristics in off-road conditions. A short wheelbase and small overhangs, combined with all-wheel drive and a low range of gears, expand the range of obstacles to overcome. The Niva from the factory can overcome serious off-road conditions that are beyond the capabilities of any other stock SUV. But all successful engineering solutions concern only the chassis and body. When you get into the cabin, it becomes noticeable that the engineers here did not care much about the driver and his passengers. Lack of sound insulation, poor ergonomics and low-quality materials spoil the impression of the entire car as a whole.

DIY tuning of Niva 2121 for off-road

Initially, the Niva 2121 was created as a universal all-terrain vehicle that feels comfortable off-road and in the city. Therefore, it is logical that off-road tuning of the Niva 2121 is especially popular.

This is due to its relative simplicity. To create, or rather, enhance the image of an SUV, you need to install on your car:

• Larger diameter wheels with tires designed for extreme off-road use. It should be recalled that low-profile tires are not relevant in this case. It is also necessary to take into account that installing large-diameter disks requires impressive torque figures. Ignoring this rule will lead to premature wear of the power unit
• Installing arch extensions on a Niva will solve several problems at once: get rid of splashes of dirt on the wings and doors, expand the possibilities in terms of choosing the diameter of the disks, and complement the tuning composition
• Power kit. It consists of a powerful kenguryatnik. It is easy to make it yourself from pipes. A structure is installed on the rear door, onto which the spare tire is attached. It will also perform a protection function. A winch must be installed. It will help off-road and give the car an aggressive, masculine look.

This is all that is needed to create a car designed for participation in sports competitions or outdoor activities. This external tuning of the Niva 2121 combines aesthetic and practical functions. Therefore, the efforts and resources invested in it will quickly pay off.

You can do an easy tuning of the Niva 2121 - install new wheels and tires and apply stylish airbrushing with a 3D effect. To carry out the last operation, it is necessary to attract specialists.

Taiga base

VAZ 21213 “Niva” is a classic representative of a bygone era of the Soviet automobile industry. The main difference from earlier versions of the SUV is the rear brake lights and the design of the third door. Everything else in the car is an echo from the past. It is not surprising that many owners, instead of buying a more “dressy” Niva Urban car, prefer to tune the Niva. 21213 is the model that replaced the first version of the domestic SUV.

“Niva Taiga” (this is the additional name the car received) had a number of advantages that distinguished it from its predecessor:

• new engine and transmission;
• efficiency.

All the beneficial aspects of the car immediately catch the eye where the road ends. On rough terrain, it is capable of performing miracles of maneuverability, limited only by the courage of its driver.

But as soon as you go on a long road trip on the highway, within an hour you will understand that you simply need to do tuning of the Niva 21213. You will be annoyed by the noise of the interior, the constant creaking of various decorative trims, and the not-so-comfortable driver’s seat. It's not easy for the rear passengers either - they feel all the unevenness of the road, and the inability to stretch their legs even a little leads to rapid fatigue.

Mechanical modification of the Niva engine

For a 4x4 class car, which is the Niva, mechanical tuning is mandatory. The reason is the low performance of standard components in terms of geometry and wear resistance.

Engine tuning should begin with improving the carburetor. Here you should replace:

• Jets. Instead of 1 camera (t110 in ZD150), 2 cameras are installed (t125 in ZD135);
• Accelerator pump nozzle.

Be sure to clean the carburetor from carbon deposits. This can be done manually using a rag, gasoline and physical force, high-pressure washers designed for home car washing or specialized baths for cleaning parts. All of the above will allow you to debug the fuel supply mechanism to the timing belt (gas distribution mechanism).

The second stage is tuning the timing belt and other mechanical components of the engine. You should immediately start correcting the geometry of the power unit. To do this, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the valves. It should be noted that sealing them increases motor power by up to 10%.

The same operation is carried out with the pusher wells of the intake and exhaust channels. This entails replacing the pusher itself. It is recommended that its diameter be at least 1 mm. This upgrade is very important for the 4x4 layout. The next step is to replace the injectors and control unit.

You can increase engine power by replacing the standard crankshaft with an advanced modification, as well as installing new piston rings. Installing a new crankshaft will give increased stroke to the pistons. In this case, they must be bored. Although many experts argue that this significantly increases fuel consumption, this operation cannot be avoided when replacing the crankshaft. All of the above operations also add power to the motor.

All of the above will significantly improve the technical performance of the Niva and reduce the wear of spare parts. The smoothness of the ride is also improved.

New interior design

What is important in tuning the Niva’s interior with your own hands? That's right - this is installing sound insulation. To do this, you should buy special material (luckily you won’t have to search for a long time) and carefully cut the shape to the size of the bottom.

Such know-how will make it impossible to listen to the car’s camshaft, which loves to “sing” loudly while driving on the asphalt.

Replacing the decor inside the car should start with standard things. Of course, the door and seat trim should be reviewed first.

To do this, you can travel to shops and markets to choose the best option. In a more radical case, the old seats can be replaced with more modern types of seats (for example, a sports type).

You can, of course, upgrade the old version, but it will be more expensive financially and will take quite a long time.

And finally, you can replace the steering wheel. In addition, now you can find any model, even a Ferrari.

Noise insulation

Refinement of the Niva's interior should begin with protecting all people in the car from noise made when driving. This procedure involves dismantling most of the interior. Therefore, it is advisable to combine such a procedure with anti-corrosion treatment. It is better to dismantle parts in the warm season (or in a warm room), since plastic parts are made of low-quality plastic and become brittle in the cold, and are easily damaged during disassembly. There are a large number of materials for sound insulation and anti-corrosion treatment, so everyone can choose the one that suits them.

Lift options

How and where you will make a lift for your crossover, decide for yourself. I will try to tell you about all the nuances of this procedure so that you understand what to expect and what to prepare for.

I will say right away that a body lift lifts the entire body by using stands, modifying the hose and other parts. In theory, such tuning is very simple, but in the case of the Niva it is not used. And why all? Yes, because the Niva 2121 and other representatives of the series do not have a frame. If there was a frame, then there would be no questions.

From this we conclude that for our Niva the optimal solution would be suspension lifting. It provides the following benefits:

• increases crossover cross-country ability;
• lifts the entire machine;
• allows you to install larger wheels without having to trim the arches;
• provides the car with a more attractive appearance;
• makes the Niva an ideal car for fishing, hunting and driving on the most difficult sections of roads and off-roads.

If you raise the car by about 45 mm, achieve a lift of 50 mm, or even take the height to a bold 60 mm, you can easily insert wheels with a diameter of up to 29 inches into the factory arches. Do not forget that installing large wheels affects fuel consumption.

Many people mistakenly believe that it is easier to cut out the arches, insert 33-inch tires there and thereby raise the car. In practice, with such solutions the machine rises slightly. Most importantly, this does not greatly affect the geometric cross-country ability. I would recommend installing 31-inch wheels and lifting at the same time. This combination will provide the best result. Just choose your car wheels wisely and don’t forget about the seasonal rules for storing tires.

I'll make one remark. When lifting the car, the service life of the internal CV joint and the factory boot is reduced. To fix the problem, try replacing the internal boots on the CV joint with external ones, and also lower the FRM (front axle gearbox) by 10 mm. This way it will be possible to reduce the angle of operation of the CV joint.

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We install new seats

The first thing you should do in your car so that daily trips in it within the city (and not only) do not lead you into a sad state of a squeezed lemon is to carry out comprehensive sound insulation of the interior.

Before disassembling the entire interior, find the front seats from a foreign car. Seats from Japanese cars have proven themselves well in domestic SUVs. The fact that you need to find rather rare seats from a coupe car should not confuse you.

Any front seats from a foreign car can be easily converted into folding angle grinders with a slight movement - you just need to cut off the stop that limits the forward movement of the backrest.

For safety, we strongly recommend that you do not weld new seats into the body of the Niva, but redesign the slide of the seat itself in order to integrate the lower rails from the original ones. Then the new comfortable chairs will become standard installation locations.

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Accessories for interior tuning

Steering wheels, pedal covers, non-standard transfer and gearbox shift knobs, as well as other controls. This is only part of the list of accessories to improve the interior, the installation of which instead of standard ones already transforms the interior, and sometimes makes the operation of the car more ergonomic and comfortable.

The sports steering wheel is an excellent replacement for the standard one.

Metal pedals with rubber inserts.

A set of handles for the gearshift lever and transfer case.

In addition, the list of accessories can be supplemented with door sill covers, all kinds of shelves, fasteners, bottle holders and other small things, sometimes useful.

Assembly procedure for modified shelves

After installing the power wall, we attach the top shelf with the speakers to the top bracket using two self-tapping screws.

We install the side panel of the purchased shelf and fasten it with two M10 bolts with a wing nut.

We install the middle shelf and fasten it with two self-tapping screws. We install a support stand to which an additional quick-release panel will be attached, hiding and protecting the items stored in the shelf.

General view of the luggage compartment with installed modified shelves:

How to install a fan in practice.

First you need to purchase a “snail” (suitable from an eight). Then we get to work. You need to remove the top grille, cut off all the protruding parts on the “snail” (profiles, ears for fastening, and so on). In the car casing (top), you will need to make two vertical cuts using a sharp knife, and the “snail” should be lowered with the exhaust down, while the air intake cover should be open.

After slightly warming up the snail body with a hairdryer, you need to press it down so that the hood lid closes easily. In general, this will be enough for now. The control can be done through a relay, but the switch can be taken from the radio station with ten positions (miniature). As a result, the cabin will become much quieter; the stove can heat up constantly.

At the same time, there is also this option: on the radiator of the VAZ 2131 car heater you can place two fans like computer fans (one size larger), as a result, when the temperature is -10 -20, this will be enough.

In the photo (side view) you can see that the volume of the air intake casing is not enough to properly position the fan. Two slits were made on the plastic front wall of the casing and then bent forward.

In the photo you can see that after modification the air intake is carried out from the side.

To control the fan, you need to install an additional switch. In addition, simultaneous operation of fans is allowed. The air flow that occurs is sufficient to blow the windows and warm up the interior.

The figure below shows a radical modification method, in which the factory fan should be removed and a centrifugal one installed in its place. However, in this case it is necessary to make the lower casing again.

Development of design and production of shelf layouts

To create the shelf layout, I used existing scrap OSB sheets. The thickness of the OSB is 9 mm, the thickness of the purchased plywood is 10 mm, which ensured sufficient accuracy. As a load-bearing structural element, I decided to use the inner side wall of the future design, attached with standard bolts to the body of the luggage compartment. The result is a rigid and reliable fastening. See photo below left. Accordingly, all other elements will be attached to the load-bearing side wall (lower photo).

The main stages and work in the manufacture of shelf layouts:

To attach the top and bottom shelves I used a steel strip (25x4) (shown below) and furniture corners (20x30 and 20x40).

Preliminary fastening (both on the OSB model and during the first trial assembly from plywood) was done using small self-tapping screws. During final assembly I used self-tapping screws of the maximum permissible length and bolted connections. In order for the speaker diffuser to fit better on the shelves, I cut spacers from 6 mm thick rubber through which I attached the speakers to the shelves.

In order not to clutter up the space, I initially decided to set aside the right shelf for the necessary things that I always carry with me: a foot pump, an emergency sign, a wheel wrench, a cable and a fire extinguisher. Accordingly, the cutouts were made taking into account the size and characteristics of these items. In this case, a fire extinguisher should always be within direct reach.

Chevrolet Niva power body kit

Off-road tuning of the Niva-Chevrolet also involves equipping it with a power body kit. This is one of the important and frequently used methods applicable to domestic and foreign cars. Preparation for the main work in this direction will take a little time; all manipulations can be carried out independently without any problems. The main thing is to remember some rules and have the right tool at hand.

First, the standard bumper is replaced with a reinforced version, if possible, with a built-in winch structure. The rear of the car is also reinforced with a powerful bumper. These elements will protect the body from possible collisions with natural obstacles (stumps, branches, flying stones, etc.). Additionally, reinforced sills are installed on the sides, which perform the same function as the updated bumpers.

Work on the suspension

Full tuning of the Niva-2121 is impossible without improving the properties of the suspension. Let's look at the most popular DIY Niva tuning. It includes:

1. Installation of spacers (store-bought or home-made) between suspension elements.
2. Replacing shock absorbers - for example, you can install Rancho shock absorbers.
3. Installing new springs.
4. Installation of steel boxes to strengthen the front and rear axles.

Refinement of the Niva may also include tuning the transfer case. Problems with front and rear axle shaft play are solved by installing new components (that is, covers, bearings, flanges and shafts).

You can also strengthen the shaft supports by installing an upgraded flange with an additional oil seal and bearings in place of the factory ones. High-quality installation of the oil seal will reduce the risk of leakage.

To reduce vibration and wear of the suspension in its lower part, it is necessary to correctly align the transfer case in the horizontal and vertical plane. We perform alignment manually or use a subframe.

Tuning a VAZ-2121 with your own hands includes installing higher springs, which allows you to significantly increase ground clearance. However, in order for the ground clearance to be increased by as much as 10 cm, it is better to install a full lift kit.

At the same time, if there is an urgent need to tailor the car to specific needs or the specifics of the road, you can make a lift kit for the Niva on your own.

You just need to prepare the following set of tools:

• rear and front springs (the best parts on a Chevrolet Niva are 31.5 cm long and 1.57 cm thick, but these parameters can easily be changed according to the owner’s requirements);
• rubber spacers for springs with special metal cups;
• shock absorbers;
• spacers for the upper ball joint (not sold in stores, so they can only be made to order);
• brackets for rear shock absorbers;
• washers for the Niva-21214 cup of an enlarged type with an internal diameter of 1 cm and an external diameter of 3 cm;
• jack;
• boards;
• spring ties.

When choosing spacers for springs for rear shock absorbers, you don’t have to go too deep into the search and make them yourself from an ordinary metal corner. The internal diameter of the product is 13.2 mm, the external diameter is 32 mm.

In addition, during the work you must refer to the diagram (Fig. 1).

And, if all the subtleties of the technical stuffing of 2131, as well as 2121, are agreed upon and ordered, you can immediately get to work. Just a few hours of painstaking work, and the Niva tuning will be completed.

If you wish, you can do the tuning of the Niva yourself. To do this you will need:

• have your own garage for work;
• purchase the necessary tools, become familiar with the production process that should be performed;
• consult with specialists; advice from a highly qualified specialist can protect you from possible troubles.

By completing modifications to a car on their own, a person can verify the quality of the work performed, receive great pleasure from the achieved result, and save his money.

If you have insufficient experience, you can involve a master in performing important operations, and become his assistant yourself.

In this case, high-quality work will be done at minimal cost to the family budget.

In the white light, like a pretty penny

Lighting devices are one of the weak points not only of the VAZ mini-SUV, but also of most domestic cars of that period in general. And many foreign models of that time also cannot boast of sufficiently good lighting devices.

In the case when tuning a VAZ 2121 Niva is carried out, the main problem in altering the lighting is the small internal volume of the “native” headlight. This often does not make it possible to improve the quality of road lighting with little expense by installing bi-xenon lamps - the lamps themselves, the starter and the corrector simply do not fit in the Niva’s miniature headlight.

There are two ways out of this situation. The first is the selection of the smallest possible devices that will fit into the limited space of a standard headlight. In addition to the difficulty of searching, this option is also fraught with problems during operation of the improved lighting device. The fact is that a small space will lead to significant heating of the device - excess heat will not have time to be removed. So it is possible that xenon lamps or the control unit will quickly fail.

A more complex, but also more reliable option is to completely replace the standard lighting fixtures with others - larger and more powerful. True, such work also requires preparing a seat for them, replacing the radiator grille and some work on connecting the electrical circuit of the headlights. However, as a result, having performed such tuning of the Niva 2121, the owner will receive fairly high-quality light - both low and high.

A common tuning option is also the installation of additional devices - on the bumper, or on a special ramp mounted on the roof. This solution allows you to improve the illumination of the front plane without completely changing the design of the standard headlights.

When choosing this type of tuning, two points must be taken into account. Firstly, the power of the new headlights should not create unnecessary load on the on-board electrical equipment. Secondly, we must not forget about the correct adjustment of the luminous flux of such devices. They should illuminate the space ahead, and not blind oncoming drivers like air defense searchlights.

Therefore, the presence of a corrector in their design is mandatory.

What can and should be done

Types of modernization work:

1. Make noise insulation of the interior;
2. Change seats;
3. Re-upholstery;
4. Install a “non-native” dashboard;
5. Remodel or replace appliances;
6. Cover with film (carbon, wood, aluminum);
7. Make neon interior lighting;
8. Install electric windows;
9. Replace the rear side windows with opening ones;
10. Install air conditioning;
11. Cover the floor with aluminum;
12. Carry out auto sound preparation;

To imagine the entire scope of work on internal tuning and visualize the result of such changes, we recommend looking at the corresponding photos and videos at the bottom of the page.

Installing and connecting music in the cabin

To one degree or another, it is difficult to do without this with any approach to improving the interior (starting from ascetic options and even more so in the case of serious alterations). Car audio and multimedia in Niva are real, although in some cases it is extremely irrelevant, taking into account the peculiarities of off-road operation.

Therefore, during internal tuning, in any case, you will have to deal with the installation of music. Moreover, not only the head unit of the system itself, but also all the accompanying car audio components - amplifiers, acoustics, subwoofers and other “bells and whistles”. Usually a simple Niva gets by with a minimum of such equipment, but there are exceptions that amaze with the originality and power of the equipment.

Amateur and professional approach to car audio installation.

Various aspects of this type of modification can be found in the Car Audio section of our article catalog.

Other improvements and changes

• Sliding or lifting sunroof;
• Opening side windows;
• Electric windows;
• Air conditioner;
• Neon lights;

You can read about all these areas in the following materials. .

Interior tuning

Interior modernization is one of the most common types of tuning in the case of Niva-21213. Many car enthusiasts do not like the interior of this car. For example, the model has poor sound insulation, and the steering wheel without power steering is quite difficult to control.

Replacing seats

You should start tuning the interior by replacing old seats with more modern options. This is done to ensure that regular car trips are comfortable and do not cause any inconvenience. In addition, thanks to a properly selected seat, sound insulation can be improved.

You can also replace the seats yourself. As for the choice of seats, experts recommend installing seats from foreign cars. For example, the seats of Japanese foreign cars are perfect for the Niva-21213. During replacement, there is no need to weld new seats into the car body.

Improved sound insulation

The comfort of a car directly depends on how well the sound insulation in the cabin is done. Many will agree that under standard conditions it is very difficult to talk on the phone in a Niva while driving, as various sounds interfere

Therefore, during tuning you should pay attention to:

• wheel arches;
• central mine.

Under the latter, in turn, there is a box that requires modernization. It will need to be coated with a special material that prevents vibration from penetrating into the interior by absorbing vibrations. The application thickness must be large to achieve high sound insulation performance.

Torpedo

The dashboard is another tuning option in the Niva-21213 interior. Additionally, it is worth noting that improving the dashboard will also provide an opportunity to improve sound insulation. In most cases, car owners, instead of replacing any parts of the dashboard, decide to completely replace it.

A suitable option would be to purchase a “Comfort” type front panel. Its main advantage is that during installation there will be no need to redo the fasteners or adjust them to size. Additionally, the panel contains connectors for installing an on-board computer or audio system, which is also a good plus.

Power steering

A car owner who decides to tune the interior cannot do without this modern device. You can install the hydraulic booster yourself if you follow the installation and connection instructions provided.

Dashboard

When carrying out noise insulation and anti-corrosion work, you will have to dismantle, among other things, the dashboard. And you can take advantage of this moment to modify the torpedo, or find a replacement for it from other cars with similar parameters. Modernization can only consist of reupholstering the instrument panel or changing its shape followed by reupholstery. If the vehicle will not be used to force deep fords, then it can be equipped with a modern multimedia system by integrating a tablet into the torpedo. For those cars that are occasionally used to overcome water obstacles, it is necessary to think over a scheme for easy and quick dismantling of multimedia before overcoming water obstacles. When changing the design of the dashboard, it is necessary to change the center console. You can also replace it by taking a torpedo from a car with suitable dimensions, or make it yourself. The main thing is that it is in the same style as the dashboard and other interior elements.

Suspension upgrade

When performing off-road tuning of Niva Chevrolet, a couple of methods for installing a lift suspension are noted. They can be mastered and implemented independently, having the necessary equipment and appropriate tools. In the first case, it is assumed that the ground clearance will be increased by 50 millimeters by installing special insert spacers. They can be purchased to order in specialized workshops or stores. The kit includes parts to increase the length of the rods and shock absorbers, as well as the inserts themselves for the front and rear springs. The asking price is about 5-6 thousand rubles per set.

Factory kits come with detailed instructions detailing the installation process. After such a “lifting”, it will be possible to use off-road wheels of 28-30 inches, which will allow for a decent margin in terms of conquering off-road conditions.

The second method of upgrading the suspension unit involves installing liners between the base of the frame and the body. The manufacturing material for such inserts is rubber or flexible metal. The design will make it possible to raise the vehicle up to 10 centimeters. Self-installation of these elements will take 2-3 days; in a professional workshop the work will take several hours. The cost of the kit is about 10 thousand rubles.

Boring the cylinder block of an installed engine

Rarely, but still, cylinder boring is carried out. Today, not many people carry out such tuning, which is associated with a fairly large number of various disadvantages:

1. The complexity of the work determines not only its high cost, but also the likelihood of a defect, due to which the work period is reduced. Of course, modern equipment allows you to check the correctness of the geometry, but this indicates that it is impossible to do without the intervention of specialists.
2. Due to boring, the volume of the cylinder block increases, which means that much more fuel is burned over a certain period of time. In other words, the tuning in question causes an increase in fuel consumption.
3. When boring, other structural elements of the internal combustion engine are also replaced. This also causes a significant increase in the cost of work performed.
4. When metal is removed, the walls become thinner and the load increases. This leads to the fact that the engine lasts much less, and the heat transfer process worsens. Therefore, with such tuning, problems may arise with the operation of the motor under load.

With so many different problems that arise when boring an engine, power increases insignificantly. Many other tuning methods can also increase this figure without reducing the service life of the structure or increasing fuel consumption.

Trunk upgrade

Tuning the Niva trunk with your own hands is also necessary. Despite the fact that the factory version of the trunk is quite spacious, the quality of workmanship is not entirely good.

This unpleasant moment occurred due to the fact that the trunk structure consists of a transverse rib and a folding shelf, which divide the opening in the car in half.

To overcome such a defect, it is best to make a special box and install it in the trunk. In addition to it, it will be possible to equip the trunk with:

• LED elements (bottom and top);
• A powerful subwoofer and a good music system (but this is only if the owner is a music lover, since such an installation reduces trunk space).

In the future, it will be possible to think about the placement of the organizer, because the luggage compartment is quite large, so no problems are foreseen.

Lighting

The stock interior is very dark at night. And if the front row is still at least somehow illuminated, then the back row does not have any lighting device. For illumination, you can use an LED strip; it is easy to install and does not consume a lot of electricity. Tuning light can be selected in any shade and installed almost anywhere. With it, the car gains more coziness and comfort. When installing additional lighting, you must remember safety and install fuses on all lighting devices.

"Niva 4x4" is a good car with a high degree of cross-country ability. But a car is not judged only by its exterior interior and driving characteristics. A big role in the evaluation of a car is played by its interior and the amenities of the driver and his passengers. Having an inexpensive (compared to competitors) and passable car, all that remains is to add convenience for passengers and your own design so that it will delight you and create a cozy atmosphere. All of the above measures will help transform the car and make its design unique.

Turbocharged Niva engine

One of the effective ways to add power to an engine is to install a turbine or compressor. This allows you to increase the volume of air entering the power unit. Here you can go three ways:

• tuning of the standard Niva compressor;
• installation of an advanced version;
• turbine installation.

The last method is the most rational. The reason is the structurally simple design of the turbine, where the supercharger and turbine impellers are located on the same shaft. The drive for the latter is exhaust gases. This determines the efficient use of energy from combustion products. The level of engine efficiency also increases due to the lack of connection between the crankshaft and the turbine shaft. The disadvantage of turbocharging is the delayed reaction of the power unit to the addition of gas. This is explained by the fact that the impeller needs time to accelerate and create excess pressure in the system. Therefore, at low speeds the turbine is ineffective. But when picking up speed, its work is very noticeable.

Tuning headlights of Niva 2121

Tuning the optics of the Niva 2121 sets the tone for the overall modernization concept. For example, installing headlights from Mercedes Gelandewagen will create the ambience of a powerful, aggressive SUV. Sports modifications of the headlights will add dynamics to the appearance and emphasize the streamlined shape. High power LED headlights can be installed to increase visibility. Another good option is to install lensed, crystal or bi-xenon headlights.

Helpful advice

The standard models have virtually no potential for modernization, so it is better to replace them with new ones.

Tuning the rear lights of the Niva 2121 is carried out according to the same scheme as upgrading the optics. It is easier and more efficient to replace standard lights with new modifications.

Upholstery with alternative materials

In addition to the materials that are used for upholstering seats, ceilings, door panels and, in some cases, dashboards - fabrics, leather, Alcantara, etc., other upholstery materials are also used for internal “upgrades”. For example, carpet (with a higher pile than the pile laid at the factory) or corrugated aluminum are chosen to cover the floor. At the same time, the carpet covering, in addition to improving the appearance, also provides additional sound insulation, and the aluminum covering makes the interior more suitable for cleaning, which is very important and practical in case of off-road use. Also, it will not be superfluous to have plastic upholstery in the trunk with a rear parcel shelf, upholstered in carpet (fleecy material), which will also make the interior more comfortable, quieter and more attractive.

Do-it-yourself turbine installation in Niva

Engineers have long been of the opinion that it is the turbine that provides a surge of greater power due to the active enrichment of the mixture. It is worth considering that installing a turbine is not a complicated modification, but the high cost of the compressor may become an obstacle to such tuning.

The design of the installed turbine is usually quite simple:

• The central part is a shaft that receives rotational motion.
• The impeller of the supercharger and turbine is installed on the shaft.
• The exhaust gases become a kind of drive, which also makes it possible to significantly increase the efficiency value.

The fact that the shaft does not receive rotational motion from the crankshaft itself or related mechanisms can significantly increase the efficiency of the installation and its power. It is possible to install the turbine yourself, but due to its relatively high cost, about 40,000 rubles for the simplest model, it is better to entrust the work to professionals.

Doing the work yourself

If you wish, you can do the tuning of the Niva yourself. To do this you will need:

• have your own garage for work;
• purchase the necessary tools, become familiar with the production process that should be performed;
• consult with specialists; advice from a highly qualified specialist can protect you from possible troubles.

By completing modifications to a car on their own, a person can verify the quality of the work performed, receive great pleasure from the achieved result, and save his money.

If you have insufficient experience, you can involve a master in performing important operations, and become his assistant yourself.

In this case, high-quality work will be done at minimal cost to the family budget.

First you need to change the standard springs, installing stiffer ones instead. Experts recommend using parts from Volga for tuning. Just before installation, you should shorten the springs by two turns.

As a rule, suspension improvements are performed by professionals in special services. You can do the work yourself, but the procedure will require large physical and financial costs.

The table below shows the most common types of tuning, as well as the minimum price for these works. The cost includes payment for the work of the craftsmen, as well as prices for components.

Thus, the choice of tuning the Niva-2131 directly depends on the financial capabilities of the car owner. Improving the five-door Niva will allow you to get a more comfortable and off-road capable car. However, the owner should be prepared for the fact that this will require a lot of effort, time, nerves, and, of course, money.

If the listed budget methods for modifying the Lada 2131 did not seem enough to you, and you can afford to spend several tens of thousands of rubles, then you can pay attention to ways to improve the Niva chassis. Doing them yourself will take a lot of time and effort, but in the end you will get a powerful SUV that can cope with any off-road conditions

Improvements to the Niva chassis

The first step that experts advise should be replacing the standard Niva 2131 springs with stiffer ones. For tuning, parts from the Volga, previously shortened by 2 turns, are suitable. It is worth noting that the parts along with installation will cost the VAZ owner almost 15 thousand rubles. If you do the work to improve the off-road performance of your car yourself, you can save money, but you will have to work with the car all day.

Replacement of seats (chairs) VAZ 2121

Not so often, but still among Niv owners there are those who do not ignore such “noticeable parts of the interior” - such as the instrument panel, dashboard and the instruments themselves. Which, in turn, can either be slightly modified (for example, changing the color of the scales or the backlight of standard sensors), or completely replaced with others, both from domestic cars and parts from foreign cars.

How to make a dashboard with your own hands?

The process of making a homemade dashboard from plywood is literally “on the knee”.

This instrument panel can be purchased from sellers of tuning parts and accessories. It seems that the choice of alternative plastic dashboards for the VAZ-21214 in online and online stores is relatively large. And if you search, you can find some pretty decent panels.

Often, fans of tuning a domestic SUV decide to completely replace the dashboard or instrument panel with appropriately sized panels from foreign cars. And more often than not, such a replacement is completely justified. Since, in addition to a clear improvement in the visual perception of the interior, comfort and ergonomics are significantly improved.

For high-quality sound insulation, you will also need to remove the front panel. Here you will find another key point included in high-quality tuning for Niva 21213 - the dashboard. It can be replaced with a more modern version. A radical solution to changing the appearance of the interior would be to completely replace the front panel with another one.

There is a “comfort” version of the front panel on sale. Its advantages are that there is no need to redo the fasteners, adjust them to size, etc. It has space for both an on-board computer and a tape recorder. The new dashboard and steering wheel will create the complete feeling that you are driving another car. Moreover, every car enthusiast can do such tuning of Niva 21213 with his own hands (photo above).