DIY tuning VAZ 2109
The VAZ 2109 is distinguished by its reliability and durability, but its appearance and some technical characteristics are already outdated. To correct these shortcomings, it is enough to tune the car. If you tune a car with your own hands, you can act in the following directions:
- driving characteristics: engine, suspension, brake system, gearbox;
- appearance: body, optics;
- salon.
Photo gallery: tuned nines
A convertible is made from a VAZ 2109, but it is very expensive and difficult
Full or partial tinting of headlights is carried out
The panel is installed from a more modern model or from a foreign car
The simplest and most affordable type of tuning is window tinting.
Installing a modern plastic bumper
The car is completely repainted in a brighter and more beautiful color
One of the tuning options is airbrushing
The spoiler protects the rear window from dirt
Shorten the springs to create lower ground clearance
Doors are made to open upwards, not sideways.
Joint venture
It is impossible not to mention the term that was often used in those years. These letters (SP) were also used at the plant in Togliatti. This is how Carlotta appeared - a modification of the Belgians, and 9 Baltic - a joint production with Finland. According to official data, the prototype model 93 was modified - 2109, but in the same years one could also find “Carlotta 93” - a modified model assembled on the basis of the VAZ-21093.
This is what Carlotta looked like. A distinctive feature by which it was recognized even in dense traffic is its dual headlights. And not a dummy, as some Russian craftsmen did with the flat headlights of the Sputnik, but precisely 2 pairs of headlights that turn on separately, like on a six.
And this is what the panel of the European Lada looks like (photo above): a different steering wheel, a different backlight, a different appearance, but the main design features of the panel of the ninth Sputnik still remain unchanged.
This is interesting: Off-road tires are a responsible choice for the car owner
Engine
In order for a car to feel confident on the road and not be inferior to other cars at the start, it is necessary to improve its engine. Before this, it is necessary to upgrade the brake system and gearbox, only in this case you will be able to drive not only quickly, but also safely.
By tuning the VAZ 2109 engine, you can increase its volume to 1.7 liters. You shouldn’t increase it any further, as the motor will start to overheat and quickly fail.
Engine volume should not be increased by more than 1.7 liters
Refinement of the engine consists of installing the following parts:
- lightweight crankshaft;
- forged pistons coated with molybdenum disulfide;
- lightweight connecting rods;
- piston pins with tapered chamfers.
In addition, you can replace the standard cylinder head with a head from Lada Kalina. The existing engine mounts are replaced with reinforced ones and the camshaft is replaced. As a result of such modifications, the car becomes more playful and powerful. It can accelerate to 180 km/h and produces 98 hp. With. If the model is carburetor, then jets with higher throughput are installed in the first and second chambers. In injection models, a January 7.2 controller is installed to control the motor.
Carburetor tuning consists of replacing jets
Video: modification of the cylinder head
How does an injector work?
Any modernized design has features that affect its advantages and disadvantages. The operating principle of the injection configuration is to constantly monitor the pressure in the rail and supply gasoline precisely to the cylinders. The signal to the injector is supplied by the control unit, which reads the piston position from the crankshaft position sensor. The principle of operation is based on the interaction of many sensors, indicating to the electronic sensor of the car the state of components and assemblies.
The main features are noted before converting the injector into a VAZ 2109 carburetor:
- The emission of harmful substances into the environment is significantly less; the car does not need to be configured or serviced before a technical inspection.
- The maximum torque is produced upon reaching a certain number of revolutions; modern engines have higher revving speeds, which allows you to save gasoline during moderate urban use.
- The absence of mechanical traction during a cold start of the internal combustion engine makes it easier to start in winter. Warm-up speed is controlled by a computer.
- When installing gas equipment of the latest generation, it is better to convert a VAZ from a carburetor to a VAZ injector than to adapt it to an older installation.
Like all parts, there are certain drawbacks to the point supply of gasoline to the cylinders, even in the factory version. Faulty injectors can only be determined through computer diagnostics, which will require certain financial costs. Also, replacing the gasoline supply element will cost more; tuning to a certain octane number allows you to achieve the desired results, but will require investment.
Lighting system
The factory lighting system of the VAZ 2109 is quite good, but does not have a very attractive appearance. The problem with the headlights offered for replacement is their low quality, so you need to make your choice carefully. By purchasing and installing low-quality but beautiful headlights, you will significantly worsen the lighting, and this will negatively affect traffic safety. The lighting system can be modified as follows:
- replacing the headlight unit;
One of the elements of lighting tuning is installing angel eyes - tinting, but at the same time the quality of light deteriorates;
- xenon headlights, but there is a fine for this and they cause inconvenience to other drivers and passers-by;
- installation of LED lamps, especially suitable for rear lights.
The plastic on taillights often becomes cloudy, which impairs its appearance and quality of lighting. To fix the problem, you can buy new plastic, but sometimes it is enough to polish the one you have. This will improve the appearance of the lights and the brightness of the lighting, making the car more visible at night and in fog.
Rear lights are tuned using LED bulbs
Video: tuning rear lights
Appearance
Overlays
The simplest tuning option is to install the overlays yourself. These include inexpensive accessories that are easy and quick to install. These are windshields fixed to the windows, fly swatters for the hood, plastic eyelashes for headlights, door handle covers (chrome), tuning bumpers by integrating a fine mesh. The cost of such elements is low and amounts to about 1,000 rubles. or less.
Wheels and tires
Mounting fancy alloy wheels is the most common option. VAZs are equipped with chrome-plated, painted or nickel-plated wheels, and the diameter, as a rule, varies from 14 to 17 inches. Large wheels are combined with low-profile tires. This makes the VAZ 2109 stand out, but affects comfort - the ride becomes harsh.
Optics
Changes to head optics are usually made independently. The owners dismantle the headlights, disassemble them, and then paint the inside surface black. Almost always, xenon is integrated into the headlights, which is often supplemented by the installation of lenses. But there are also ready-made options: lensed headlights in the “BMW 5 tone chrome” style (RUB 8,000), chrome-plated (RUB 7,000) and others.
Tail lights are available for purchase. Usually the standard stops are replaced with new ones with a different design and shade of glass - red or smoky (about 1,300 rubles per pair).
Aerodynamic body kits
Installing a body kit will immediately make the stock VAZ 2109 stylish and aggressive. But purchasing a kit is not always justified and requires considerable one-time financial investments. You can purchase the kit both at the car market and in the online store.
The cost varies, and significantly. Sets: “Miller 2” (RUB 7,000), “Miller Pilot” (RUB 11,300), “Miller Style” (RUB 5,500), “Zestline” (RUB 9,000), “Sniper Classic” ( 15,500 rub.), “AVR” (14,500 rub.), “Carlota” (10,400 rub.), “Tarantula” (13,100 rub.), “Ruzanov” (19,000 rub.), “Solo DM” (RUB 18,500) and others.
However, you can purchase items separately. It's more expensive, but you can combine different styles and buy parts gradually, which is easier financially. Examples: Miller thresholds (RUB 1,750), AVR (RUB 1,700), LEX (RUB 1,100), front bumpers Ya Robot (RUB 4,100), Fan Sport (RUB 3,600), LEX (3 300 rub.), rear bumper Miller (3,500 rub.), etc.
Body parts
They are also often changed. For example, they install new hoods made of carbon fiber or fiberglass, equipped with air intakes (AVR type hood for 6,000 rubles, Ya Robot type for 6,500 rubles, etc.).
Lambo doors are also not uncommon, for which special canopies are purchased. But such doors are extremely impractical (crooked gaps, air siphons, etc.).
Airbrush
It doesn't happen that often. However, a qualified artist can turn the “nine” into a real exclusive. But for this you need to find a competent craftsman who owns branded equipment, since when using budget spray guns, even a high-quality drawing often turns out to be blurry.
You can read about tuning the “six” - one of the most popular models from a number of old VAZs - with colorful photos here. The test drive results of the Lada Vesta, a new VAZ model, can be found here.
Trunk nine
The value is rather nominal, giving the right to assert: “He exists.” It includes either a suitcase, or a couple of travel bags, and three buckets. When installing gas equipment with a cylindrical cylinder, it disappears completely, although there is useful space for tuning there too. The main, and perhaps the only, opportunity to transform the luggage compartment is to install a subwoofer and speaker amplifier. The process looks like this:
- A speaker box is assembled from chipboard or plywood;
- the wiring is laid, the subwoofer is attached;
- the internal cavity of the trunk is lined with kapert - a gray fleecy automotive fabric similar to a rug;
- The amplifier is mounted on top.
The composition looks gorgeous, especially if backlit. The car “sounds”, and there is only one problem: you have to sacrifice the spare tire due to the inability to access the recess on the bottom of the compartment.
Increasing engine volume
There are a number of different methods for boosting a VAZ engine. The most reliable of them is to increase its working volume. The effectiveness of this method, as they say, is obvious. Judge for yourself - more of the combustible mixture enters the combustion chamber, and accordingly, in such quantity it provides a lot of energy. If such engine repairs are made, the VAZ-2109 will become 20-40 percent more powerful. But here’s the thing: along with the power of the car, fuel consumption also increases by 15-20 percent. Therefore, before you start tuning, pay attention to the consequences. However, consumption is not such a significant problem. Instead of 7 liters, she will now “eat” 8.4. The difference is not scary or shocking.
Acoustics
Many people are familiar with the situation when passengers sitting in the back seat practically cannot hear those in front, although those sitting in front can hear themselves and those in the rear quite well. This is due to improper installation of the speakers and tuning of the car's sound system as a whole. The interior of a car is a limited space, and here you need to think very carefully about how and where to place the speakers. Most often, no one thinks about this. The result is the situation described above.
Those who still decide to install speakers in the front face a number of difficulties. They can be mounted either in the doors or in standard places on the dashboard. The door, being a resonator, requires good sound insulation of the speakers. In addition, both the door and the dashboard cannot accommodate large enough speakers - there simply is not enough space for this.
Speakers in the front doors of VAZ 2109
An alternative that does not have most of the listed disadvantages is to place speakers under the car seats. The VAZ 2109 has a small opening there formed by the frame and the arc of the front support. Acoustics are installed in this space. Of course, you need to make a box that will be the speaker housing - here you will have to do everything yourself, since such boxes are not sold. However, the time and effort spent will pay off with good powerful sound.
In conclusion, we can emphasize that competently carried out tuning will make the car unique, while at the same time adding many positive qualities to it. Today there are enough workshops that specialize in providing such services. If for some reason it is not possible to do the necessary work yourself, it is worth finding good craftsmen and paying for their services.
