Do-it-yourself cool "classic": all about tuning "Zhiguli"
Content
- What is tuning
- Styling "classics" VAZ: external and internal modifications
- Technical tuning "Zhiguli": we increase the performance
Hearing the word "classic", most motorists in our country remember not the works of Chekhov and Tolstoy and not symphonic music, but the family of cars of the Volga Automobile Plant, originating from the legendary "penny" VAZ-2101, released for the first time in 1970. Rear-wheel drive small cars were produced until 2012, and, despite their archaic design, are dearly loved by many motorists in the vastness of Russia and the countries of the former socialist camp. The characteristics of the Zhiguli, regardless of the model, are very modest, and the design is angular and not too refined, but the simplicity of the design provides extensive tuning opportunities. Consider the most common solutions to improve the style and driving characteristics of the "classics".
What is tuning
Tuning a car is the process of modifying it to improve its performance or design. It is conditionally possible to distinguish two areas of improvements:
- technical tuning,
- styling.
Technical tuning is aimed at improving the driving characteristics of the car, such as power, aerodynamics, handling, dynamic performance, economy and safety. To improve these parameters, work is underway on the engine, suspension, gearbox, exhaust and brake systems and other components that affect the performance of the car.
Styling is carried out in order to change the appearance of the car and its interior, to make the car unique. Improvements in this area of tuning usually relate to body panels, rims, lighting and interior details.
Both of these approaches are applied to VAZ models of the classic line, often combining them. Therefore, on the roads of our country, you can find both fives, sevens and other models of the family changed beyond recognition, as well as heavy-duty fireballs that are outwardly indistinguishable from their angular counterparts.
Styling "classics" VAZ: external and internal modifications
Many owners of "classic" VAZ models want to make the car unique, and the interior more comfortable and bright, while some simply consider the appearance of their cars unfinished. Both of them resort to visual tuning, sometimes without affecting the technical part. Consider the most popular ways to improve the appearance and interior of the Zhiguli.
Tuning front optics "Lada"
The front lighting of a car is often associated with the eyes of the car. Headlights are often the defining element of design, so it's no wonder that most often motorists take up tuning optics in the first place. Depending on the model, tuning tasks and the amount of money that the owner is willing to spend on finalizing his car, three types of headlight improvements can be conditionally distinguished. Consider them in order from the most budgetary to the most complex and costly.
Changing the shape of the head lighting equipment by installing overlays
This method of tuning headlights is most often used by owners of VAZ-2104, 2105 and 2107 cars. Their rectangular lighting equipment with a flat ceiling surface makes it easy to install overlays of almost any shape. Front light tuning kits are sold at most domestic auto parts stores. Often, motorists make nozzles on their own, because this requires only dense plastic, a sharp saw and sandpaper or a file.
Nozzles are attached, as a rule, with glue directly to the headlight cover. When using screws, the nozzle must be installed on the car body to prevent water from entering the headlight, so this method is used less frequently.
It is worth considering carefully the choice of glue. It must be heat-resistant, as the headlights can heat up to high temperatures during long-term operation.
Installation of angel eyes on the Zhiguli
The so-called angel eyes are a more complex kind of tuning the head light of the “classic”. Most often, such a refinement is carried out on the VAZ-2106 and 2103 models, since on these cars the LED strip can also be fixed outside the headlights. However, this modification is quite common on other products of the "classic" line. To install angel eyes on the "four", "five" or "seven", you need to drill a reflector inside the ceiling and install diodes in each hole. In addition, a box for a block of diodes and resistors is placed on the back side.
Similarly, you can improve the rear optics. LEDs will increase the brightness of brake lights, change the pattern of the rear lights and reduce the load on the car's on-board electrical network.
All holes drilled in the reflectors for installing diodes must be treated with sealant to prevent water from entering the headlight.
Xenon headlights for the "classic" VAZ
The most radical and expensive modification of the Zhiguli head light is the installation of xenon headlights. Xenon light is much brighter than halogen, and the illumination spot from such headlights is much wider. The installation process itself is easy. It is enough to remove the headlights, drill holes in the reflectors and install new lamps. However, starting equipment and the lamps themselves can be quite expensive.
Video: tuning headlights VAZ 2106 with lenses
Tuning windows "Lada"
To create a cozy atmosphere in the cabin, as well as to protect from bright sunlight, the owners of the Zhiguli often resort to applying tinting to the windows, as well as installing a grille on the rear-view glass.
More about VAZ-2107 glasses: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/stekla/lobovoe-steklo-vaz-2107.html
Toning: style, comfort and law
Car window tinting is probably the most common type of tuning. As a rule, windows are tinted with a film. There is also electric tinting, but its cost is measured in thousands of dollars, so it is not used on the Zhiguli. There are several types of tint film:
- Painted is the most common option. Fastened with glue applied to the surface of the film itself. The degree of dimming depends on the preferences of the car owner.
Blind tint looks stylish, but is unsafe and therefore illegal. - Metallized. It has a metallic mirror finish. Such a film can have different shades, which means that it can be matched to the body color of your car. It is attached to the window in the same way as it is painted.Metallic tinting perfectly hides the bowels of the cabin from prying eyes
- Perforated. Consists of small opaque cells and holes between them. It is usually installed on the rear windows.
- Silicone. This tinting technology was a response to the emerging laws that limit the degree of dimming of the front windows, namely: part 3.1 of article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses and GOST 27902. Silicone tinting is attached using a static effect, without the use of glue.
A car enthusiast who is about to tint their car windows should be aware of the legal regulations regarding the level of blackout. The main points of GOST 27902 (glass light transmission):
- The windshield should not lose more than 25% of light transmission.
- For the front windows of car doors, losses can be up to 30%.
- The rear center glass and side windows on the rear doors can be tinted up to 95%.
- Printing and perforated film are not allowed on the front windows.
- The use of red, green, yellow and blue tint film on the front windows is prohibited.
Rear window grille: a classic for a “classic”
The grille on the rear window is a decorative element made in the spirit of powerful American cars of the seventies. In addition to a purely aesthetic purpose, it protects the rear of the cabin from direct sunlight, and the rear window from dirt.
As a rule, the grille is sold in the form of two separate parts and is fastened with a special protrusion located around the entire perimeter of the part. This protrusion must be placed under the rear window rubber seal. Contact surfaces should preferably be cleaned and degreased.
Aerodynamic body kits and spoilers for Zhiguli
If you want to radically change the look of your "classic", you can not do without an aerodynamic body kit. However, it should be understood that the word "aerodynamic" in relation to most tuning packages for the "Lada" is used in a figurative sense. Parts that really improve streamlining or increase traction are rare and usually cost quite a lot of money.
Typically, an aerodynamic body kit includes:
- modified front bumper with imitation air intakes and spoilers;
- door sills;
- rear bumper (sometimes with a decorative diffuser).
Sometimes the aerokit also includes a rear wing, which is most often attached to the trunk lid.
Refinement of the interior of the "classic"
Refinement of the Zhiguli interior looks like the most appropriate styling direction, because it is the interior of the car that is most often in front of the driver and passengers. In addition, in addition to aesthetic changes, you can significantly increase the level of comfort, which is not high in the basic configurations of the “classic” line models.
Sound insulation of the cabin
Speaking of comfort, first of all, you should pay attention to sound insulation. In the factory configuration of the Zhiguli, it is practically absent.
To paste the interior with soundproofing material, you will have to remove all the seats, the dashboard, as well as the door trim. As noise insulation, you can use penofol or a special coating that is sold in parts stores.
Front panel: replacement, refinement and sheathing
The front panel on VAZ cars of the "classic" family can be upgraded or replaced entirely. Some owners prefer to install torpedoes from other VAZ models on their cars, but there are also those who decide to install parts from cars of other brands. In the vastness of the network, you can find photos of Zhiguli with torpedoes from Mitsubishi Galant and Lancer, Nissan Almera and even Maxima. The BMW brand is especially popular in our country, so craftsmen install front panels from most of the old models of the Bavarian automaker on the “classics”. Naturally, donor torpedoes need to be seriously modified and customized so that they fit into the Zhiguli cabin.
The native front panel can be sheathed in leather or other material. This is a rather complex process. In order for the new skin to look good, it is necessary to perfectly fit the material so that it does not sag or form wrinkles. The torpedo itself must be completely dismantled for plating.
New devices are often installed on a standard front panel. Ready-made instrument clusters for various Zhiguli models are sold in automotive stores, but the most creative car owners make scales, arrows and lights with their own hands.
Video: tuning the dashboard VAZ 2106
Seats: upholstery or covers
There are a lot of companies that make car seat covers. Their range includes models for almost any brand. Moreover, many of these companies produce cases according to individual wishes of the customer. Thus, choosing an option for the "classics" is not difficult. However, the covers in most cases are a temporary solution, they stretch and begin to “walk” on the seats.
If you are skilled in cutting and sewing, you can upholster the seats yourself with the material that suits you. It is important that the fabric, leather or vinyl is durable and resistant to warping.
Read about VAZ-2107 seats: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/salon/sidenya-na-vaz-2107.html
door card trim
After replacing the upholstery of the seats and the front panel, it makes sense to pay attention to the door cards. As a rule, in the basic configuration, they are upholstered in cheap black leatherette and low-quality plastic. To improve this part of the cabin, the inner door trim will have to be removed, after dismantling the armrest, the inner door opening handle and the power window lever.
Installation of power windows
In the process of tuning the door trim, you can also install power windows. Installation kits are available from auto parts stores.
Ceiling tug
The ceilings on the Zhiguli suffer almost more than other interior elements. The material with which the ceiling is upholstered often sags, tears or gets dirty. There are two ways to stretch the ceiling:
- Direct upholstery replacement. This procedure requires the removal of the arcs over which the material is stretched. During this operation, you can glue the ceiling with additional sound insulation.
- Stretching a new layer of upholstery over the old. This method is suitable if the old ceiling has not yet sagged.
Replacing the steering wheel and gearshift lever
If the tuning of the "classic" is made in a sporty style, it makes sense to install a three- or two-spoke sports steering wheel of a smaller diameter. To do this, you need to remove the old steering wheel, the mounts of which are located under the signal cushion. The screws that hold the cushion itself, depending on the model, are either under the emblem or on the back of the steering wheel.
It also makes sense to choose a nozzle for the gearshift lever in accordance with the color scheme and style of interior trim. Some owners shorten the lever itself to reduce its travel, but this can lead to a decrease in shifting efficiency.
Video: do-it-yourself VAZ 2107 interior tuning
Landing understatement
Recently, young motorists, who are most often engaged in tuning the "classics", have been popular with lowering the car's suspension. This is done solely for aesthetic reasons and often leads to a decrease in the driving properties of the car. This direction of improvement is not recommended for residents of those parts of our country where the quality of the road surface leaves much to be desired.
Understating the "classics" is quite simple. It is necessary to disassemble the front and rear suspension units and cut the springs to the required length.
Technical tuning "Zhiguli": we increase the performance
The simplicity of the Zhiguli design makes the cars of this family an ideal constructor from which you can assemble a fast and maneuverable car. And the rear-wheel drive layout allows you to build a real car for drifting competitions or amateur circuit racing. However, for a serious improvement in the handling, dynamics and safety of the Zhiguli, deep improvements are required. Let's see how you can start this process.
How to improve the handling and stability of the "classic"
Despite the classic layout (front engine, rear-wheel drive), the Zhiguli are characterized by mediocre handling. And the road cars of this family do not hold very well. Correcting this situation is quite real. To do this, you need to pay attention to tuning the suspension and brakes.
Refinement of the Zhiguli suspension
The standard tuning scheme for the “classic” suspension allows you to increase its rigidity and significantly reduce rolls. It consists of three stages:
- Installation of springs from the "Niva" (VAZ 2121). The springs are more rigid, but at the same time they are ideal for installation on the Zhiguli. At this stage, you also need to replace the rubber bumpers.
- Replacing shock absorbers with sports ones. Preference should be given to gas oil racks. The range of these units in parts stores is very wide.
- Installing stiffer anti-roll bars.
Improvement of the suspension will not only improve handling and stability, but also increase comfort when driving a Zhiguli.
Brake tuning
Refinement of the brakes on the Zhiguli is worth doing before you take on the increase in power and dynamic performance. The standard brakes of the “classic” have never been efficient or reliable, so they may simply not be able to cope with the increased speeds.
As a rule, all Zhiguli were equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes. It is better to start the improvement process by replacing the rear brakes. Brake tuning kits from well-known manufacturers can be purchased at parts stores, but their price can be quite high. A budget option is to install ventilated disc brakes from the VAZ-2112. They are much more effective at stopping the car.
Tuning the rear brakes comes down to replacing drum mechanisms with disc brakes. A VAZ-2108 can become a donor. The front brake calipers from the "eight" or "nine" are easy to adapt and install on the "classic" as the rear ones, but the discs will have to be bought separately.
How to increase the power and dynamic characteristics of the "classics"
The Achilles' heel of "classics" is its dynamics. Even the most budgetary foreign cars pick up speed much faster than the Zhiguli. Many owners of "classic" VAZs are not ready to put up with this. They resort to tuning the engines of their cars, and also modify the exhaust system.
Video: loaded "seven" against supercars in drag racing competitions
Tuning engine "Zhiguli"
Chip tuning is available to owners of injector Zhiguli. This procedure does not require intervention in the engine design. The change in the characteristics of the motor occurs due to the adjustment of the engine software. With the help of chip tuning, it is possible to change the level of saturation of the burning mixture with gasoline, which, in turn, leads to a change in power and efficiency parameters.
Learn more about the device of the VAZ-2107 engine: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/dvigatel/dvigatel-vaz-2107-inzhektor.html
If your Zhiguli has a carburetor engine, chip tuning, unfortunately, is not available to you. However, power can be increased by installing two carburetors or by increasing the diameter of the fuel and air jets of the carburetor. The effect of this upgrade is to accelerate the supply of air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber.
If these improvements are not enough, you can use the following methods to increase the power of the "classic" engine:
- Installing a zero resistance air filter will increase power by improving the process of saturation of the combustible mixture with air. Engine performance is improved without sacrificing efficiency.
- Installation of the compressor and turbine.
- Increasing the working volume by boring the cylinder block.
Video: chiptuning the "seven" motor
Exhaust system tuning
A competent refinement of the Zhiguli exhaust system can bring an increase in power up to 10 horsepower. Noise absorption, environmental friendliness and efficiency of the machine are sacrificed for performance improvement.
It is possible to reduce the resistance of the exhaust system and thereby increase the power by installing a direct-flow exhaust. The difference between conventional exhaust and cocurrent exhaust is the linear arrangement of the muffler chambers.
It should be understood that a do-it-yourself forward flow may not bring an increase in power. In this case, the whole point of the changes will be only to increase the volume of the exhaust. For greater confidence in the tuning results, it is best to purchase a straight-through muffler designed by specialists for your car model.
This rule also applies to the replacement of the "pants" of the muffler. An incorrectly selected part can disrupt the operation of the cylinders. However, a high-quality low-resistance manifold increases engine power due to more efficient removal of exhaust gases.
Increasing the security of the "classics"
If you have seriously upgraded your “classic”, made it noticeably faster and more maneuverable, you should think about increasing the level of safety. This direction of tuning becomes especially important if the car will be used in one or another kind of competition.
Four-point seat belts for driver and front passenger
Standard seat belts have a three-point fastening system. They cope with fixing the driver and passenger in the event of a frontal and side impact, but they do not hold the body securely enough. Four-point harnesses can save people even in an overturning vehicle. They are in contact with the body in the manner of the shoulders of a backpack and are securely held in the chair.
The lower anchorages of the four-point belts are mounted on the lower part of the seat backs, and the upper anchorages are mounted on special eyelets that must be mounted in the floor behind the driver and front passenger or in the roll cage. This usually leaves little room for the rear passengers' legs, so four-point harnesses are mostly reserved for sports models that don't have rear seats.
Safety cage for "Zhiguli"
The roll cage serves to protect the driver and passenger from injury in the most serious accidents. Carcasses are predominantly used in racing cars, moreover, in most racing series, the presence of a safety cage is a prerequisite for the car to be allowed on the track. In addition to the protective function, the frame can also increase the rigidity of the supporting structure, which has a positive effect on the vehicle's handling.
There are two types of safety cages available for installation on the Zhiguli:
- Welded. Mounted in the body by welding. Such a structure cannot be dismantled.
- Boltova. Mounted on bolts, fastened, as a rule, to the bottom and ceiling of the car. The reliability and fastening strength of such a frame is somewhat lower than that of a welded frame, but for the “classics” its characteristics are usually sufficient.
Tuning VAZ cars of the “classic” line can turn an outdated budget car into a real racing monster or into a stylish compact vehicle with a very high level of comfort. It is important to know the measure in visual tuning and to correctly approach technical tuning. Refine your Zhiguli with taste and intelligence, then the result will pleasantly surprise you and your neighbors on the road.
