April 5, 1977 has firmly entered the history of the domestic automotive industry, since it was this date that launched the mass production of the popular Soviet SUV VAZ 2121. Reasonable price and ease of maintenance, coupled with the high cross-country ability of the vehicle (which many modern models still achieve today) and today keeps this car brand at the top of the car sales list.
Of course, it also has some technical shortcomings and some flaws. But who said they can't be improved? Moreover, tuning a VAZ Niva with your own hands will not require an injection of colossal financial resources, and will not take much time.
The most important argument in favor of improving the car is its age (after all, 40 years is a long time and a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then).
In addition, what was comfortable for a Soviet person is not entirely suitable for a person of modern times. This is especially felt during a long trip.
Not very good smoothness and clarity of steering, technical shortcomings of the engine, not very comfortable internal content - all this can be adequately improved with the help of other parts.
The updated Niva will receive new technical and aesthetic characteristics, which will immediately affect the comfort of movement in this car. It is in this direction that you should do tuning a Niva 4 x 4 with your own hands.
What to change
Do-it-yourself tuning of a Chevrolet Niva (and older models too) should begin by identifying the most important priorities. That is, it is necessary to determine what needs to be replaced first, and what can wait a little.
In general, modification of the machine may include such fundamental changes as:
- Complete replacement of lighting fixtures;
- Replacing conventional wheels with models with a larger diameter in order to be able to travel on domestic off-road conditions;
- Complete rework of the interior trim (replacement of the dashboard, steering wheel, trim, etc.);
- Improving the suspension by adding new automotive elements;
- Installation of arch extensions. This function will help overcome several problems at once - the doors and fenders will not get too dirty, plus the tuning composition will become noticeably wider;
- Taking engine power to a whole new level;
- Adding more efficiency to the trunk.
Based on these key changes, you can build a competent strategy for pumping up your car.
Many improvements can be done yourself; some more complex ones can be left to an experienced professional. And it will not be superfluous to search for information that could be useful in this work.
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.
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Improving the “heart” of the machine
Do-it-yourself Niva engine tuning should first begin with improving the characteristics of the carburetor.
The most correct and productive solution is to install a more modern model, which has a larger diffuser (or as it is also called a throttle).
When replacing this unit completely, the best option would be to install an electronic ignition system. It is both more convenient and more modern.Replacing an old carburetor with a new one won't look as productive unless you also replace the camshaft. This is a very important point, since it is this combination that can give the car more power, and therefore more speed.
Of course, this will lead to strong heating of the parts, but this is not a problem either. A new radiator with a larger surface area and the problem is solved.
Correcting the engine geometry looks like an interesting approach. Indeed, on Niva it is quite voluminous. To perform this operation, it is necessary to increase the diameters of the valves.
Lada Niva Special
This is a modification of a classic SUV, created by the Czech company Autolada CZ. The cars were modified in Prague in very small batches. The masters modified the classic version by extending the rear protrusion and installing wings. You could buy such a car in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Interestingly, the buyer could choose a cargo version called Praktik, which had only two seats and a simple passenger version.
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.
Reupholstering the interior is also an important point. Here you can either use what you have at home or purchase a special kit. The interior of the car, made in light shades, looks very cool.
And finally, you can replace the steering wheel. In addition, now you can find any model, even a Ferrari.
VAZ-21213 “Laura”
NIVA Laura is an armored car with hinged doors, based on hidden armor technology. The car was intended mainly for collectors, but could also be used for other purposes. Full-length curved glass provided the crew with a high degree of visibility, and hinged doors made it possible to quickly load or unload crew and valuables.
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.
Bronto-212182 "Force"
Niva cars are often used as a basis for creating unusual modifications. One of the interesting solutions is an armored vehicle, called “Force”, in which the armor and glass are capable of withstanding a 5.45 mm Kalashnikov burst. and 7.62 mm. This model was developed for collectors. Additionally, it was equipped with an air conditioner, another battery, and a fire and explosion-proof fuel tank.
Photo of do-it-yourself Niva tuning
Bronto-212183 "Landole"
This model was also presented. The classic Niva has been greatly modified. The upper part of the body was completely removed and a safety cage was installed in its place. The doors were completely removed, and small plastic stops appeared instead. The usual trunk is also missing here, which has been replaced by an open side. This model was produced in 1998-2009.
Bottom line
Of course, car enthusiasts are capable of more sophisticated ways to modernize a Niva 4x4, but it’s unlikely to cover them all in one article. Good luck on the roads and know that for a real motorist there are simply no unsolvable tasks to improve his car!
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Equipment and comfort
At first glance, the VAZ Niva 21213 is the Volga analogue of the Ural UAZ 469 model. Yes, in terms of driving performance and cross-country ability they are almost Siamese twins, but inside they are completely different. The front row of seats has headrests, the backrest is adjustable in length and angle, the rear row folds to increase luggage space. Upon request, the Niva was equipped with a rear window washer and cleaner, as well as an electric window heater. By today's standards, the equipment of the Volga SUV is almost ascetic, but in the 70s they did not even dream of such luxurious things.
