Tuning VAZ 2102: improvements to the body, interior, engine
Content
To date, the VAZ 2102 practically does not attract attention. However, if you subject this model to tuning, you can not only improve its appearance, but also increase the level of comfort and handling. To make a car different from a production model, it is not necessary to spend large sums of money. It will be enough to install modern disks, tint the windows, replace the standard optics with a modern one and update the interior.
Tuning VAZ 2102
VAZ 2102 in the factory configuration has a lot of shortcomings that relate to both the engine, brakes and suspension. In those years when this model was just starting to be produced, the characteristics of the car were pretty good. If we take into account the parameters of today's cars, then the VAZ "two" cannot boast of anything. However, some owners of these cars are in no hurry to part with them and practice tuning, improving the appearance, as well as certain characteristics.
What is tuning
Under tuning a car, it is customary to understand the refinement of both individual components and assemblies, and the car as a whole for a specific owner. Depending on the desire of the owner and his financial capabilities, engine power can be increased, a more efficient braking system, exhaust system can be installed, the interior trim has been improved or completely modified, and much more. When making cardinal changes to the car, you can end up with a completely different car, which will only remotely resemble the original.
Photo gallery: tuned VAZ "deuce"
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- Tuning allows you to emphasize the individual style and character of the car
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- With a little work on the appearance of the car, you can give it a completely different look for quite reasonable money.
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- Body tuning opens up wide opportunities for the realization of various ideas.
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- The installation of modern disks in conjunction with the expansion of the arches distinguishes the car from similar ones.
Body tuning
Changing the body of the "two" is one of the priority measures for finalizing the car. This is explained by the fact that it is the external changes that immediately catch the eye, which cannot be said about the modifications of the motor or transmission. Body tuning can be divided into several stages, each of which involves more serious modifications:
- light - with this option, light alloy wheels are installed, windows are tinted, the radiator grille is changed;
- medium - perform airbrushing, mount a body kit, change standard optics to modern ones, remove moldings and native door locks;
- deep - a serious revision of the body is being carried out, in which the roof is lowered or made more streamlined, the rear doors are removed, and the arches are widened.
It is important to understand that if the car body is in a deplorable state, for example, it is badly damaged by corrosion or has dents after an accident, then you first need to eliminate the shortcomings and only then proceed to make improvements.
Windshield tinting
Windshield dimming is practiced by many car owners. Before proceeding with such tuning, you need to know that the windshield must have a light transmission capacity of at least 70%. Otherwise, there may be problems with the traffic police. The main advantages of darkening the windshield are as follows:
- protection of the cabin from ultraviolet radiation;
- prevention of glass shattering into fragments in the event of an accident;
- elimination of blinding of the driver by sunlight and headlights of oncoming traffic, which increases driving safety.
Tinted windshields and other windows should not cause any problems. The main thing is to prepare the necessary tool and familiarize yourself with the sequence of actions. Today, one of the most common tinting materials is a film. It is applied to the windshield in several stages:
- The surface of the glass is cleaned from the inside.
- The necessary piece of film is cut out with a margin.
- Soap solution is applied to the glass.
- The protective layer is removed, after which the film itself is applied to the glass and smoothed with a spatula or rubber roller.
Video: how to tint a windshield
Headlight change
One of the elements of external tuning VAZ 2102 is optics. Often headlights set the design of the car. A fairly popular refinement is the installation of "angel eyes".
These elements are luminous rings that are mounted in the head optics. Also, quite often on the cars in question, you can see visors on the headlights, which looks pretty nice and attractive. To improve the quality of illumination of the road, the headlights of the new type should be installed under the H4 base (with internal reflector). This will allow you to supply halogen lamps with more power (60/55 W) than regular ones (45/40 W).
Tinting and grille on the rear window
When dimming the rear window on the "deuce", the same goals are pursued as in the case of the windshield. The process of applying the film consists of similar steps. If in some place it is not possible to level the material, you can use a building hair dryer. However, you need to be careful not to damage the film with a stream of hot air. Sometimes the owners of the classic Zhiguli install a grille on the rear window. The element is made of plastic and gives a certain aggressiveness to the car. The opinions of motorists about such a detail differ: some consider the grille an outdated element for tuning, others, on the contrary, seek to install it in order to give more rigor to the appearance. Installing the grid solves several problems at once:
- snow is kept on the surface of the grate, leaving the glass clean;
- the contents of the trunk are protected from prying eyes;
- overheating of the passenger compartment in the summer is prevented.
Of the negative aspects of installing the grate, it is worth highlighting the difficulty of cleaning the glass from dirt and debris. There are two ways to place the element in question:
- with the dismantling of the rear window;
- without removing the glass by prying the grate under the seal.
Safety cage
Under the safety cage in a car, it is customary to understand a structure made, as a rule, of pipes and preventing serious deformations of the body during a collision or when the car is overturned. The frame is assembled inside the car and attached to the body. The installation of such a design is aimed at saving the life of the driver and crew of the car in the event of an accident. Initially, frames were used to equip rally cars, but later they began to be used in other types of racing. The systems under consideration can be of various designs, ranging from the simplest in the form of yoke-arches over the head of the driver and passenger to a complex skeleton that combines front and rear suspension cups, as well as body sills and sidewalls into a single whole.
It is important to understand that installing a similar design on a "two" or other classic model will cost at least 1 thousand dollars. In addition, for such a conversion, you will have to completely disassemble the entire interior of the car. Incorrect installation may cause additional injury in the event of a collision. However, one of the main points is the impossibility of registering a car with such a design in the traffic police.
Tuning of the VAZ 2102 suspension
If there is a desire to make changes to the design of the standard suspension of the VAZ 2102, then attention is mainly paid to lowering the body and increasing the stiffness of the suspension. Tuning involves the installation of the following elements:
- in front of the spring from the "Niva";
- rear shortened standard springs plus spacers;
- adjustable Panhard rod;
- inverted, swapped and modified for lowering the front levers;
- gas-oil shock absorbers;
- reinforced ball bearings;
- polyurethane silent blocks.
In addition to the listed parts, you will need to saw off the front bumpers completely, and the rear ones in half. Such changes in the suspension will provide better handling and stability of the car, as well as increase comfort while driving.
Tuning salon VAZ 2102
Since the driver and passengers spend most of their time in the car, the interior is given considerable importance. Making changes in the cabin allows not only to improve it, but also to increase comfort, which in the VAZ "two" leaves much to be desired.
Changing the front panel
The torpedo on the classic Zhiguli can be changed or replaced with a product from other cars, for example, Mitsubishi Galant and Lancer, Nissan Almera and even Maxima. However, the most popular is the panel from BMW (E30, E39). Of course, the part in question from a foreign car will have to be changed and finalized according to the size of the “two” interior.
As for the native panel, it can be trimmed with leather, alcantara, vinyl, eco-leather. For improvements, the torpedo will have to be removed from the car. In addition to the waist, new devices are often mounted in a standard panel, for example, a voltmeter, a temperature sensor. Also, sometimes you can find a Zhiguli with modern instrument scales that give a certain sporty style and make the readings more readable.
Video: front panel hauling using the VAZ 2106 as an example
Upholstery change
The bulk of the cars in question have interior trim, which is long outdated and in a sad state. To update the interior, you first need to choose a color scheme and decide on the finishing material.
seats
Today there are many companies that are engaged in the manufacture of covers and seat upholstery. Products can be made both for a specific model of the machine, and according to the individual wishes of the customer. However, it should be borne in mind that installing seat covers is a temporary solution, as they stretch and begin to fidget. Padding of chairs is an option, although not cheap, but more reliable. Among the common materials for such a procedure are:
- leather;
- eco-leather;
- alcantara;
- the cloth.
The combination of materials allows you to get original products.
Door cards
It is quite logical after updating the seats to finish the door cards. Initially, these elements were upholstered in black leatherette, as well as low-quality plastic. To improve this part of the cabin, you will need to remove the door trim, remove the old material, make a pattern from the new one and fix it to the frame. The materials listed above can be used as finishing.
Ceiling
The ceiling in the "Zhiguli" is also a "sore" topic, since it quite often sags, gets dirty and breaks. You can update the ceiling in the following ways:
- upholstery replacement. With this option, it is supposed to dismantle the ceiling material along with the arcs. Additionally, you can glue the top with a layer of sound insulation;
- finishing over the old material. If the old ceiling has not yet sagged, then a new finish can be applied to it.
As a ceiling material, many owners of the VAZ 2102 and other Zhiguli use carpet.
Tuning the engine "deuce"
VAZ 2102 was equipped with carburetor engines with a volume of 1,2–1,5 liters. The power of these power plants ranges from 64 to 77 hp. Today they are outdated and there is no need to talk about some kind of car dynamics. Those owners who are not satisfied with the power of the motor resort to various modifications.
Carburetor
The most minimal alterations can start with the carburetor, since changes in the incoming combustible mixture in the engine combustion chambers to one degree or another affect the dynamic characteristics of the car. The characteristics of the carburetor can be changed as follows:
- We remove the spring in the vacuum throttle actuator, which will positively affect the dynamics and slightly increase fuel consumption.
- The diffuser of the primary chamber marked 3,5 is changed to a diffuser 4,5, similar to the second chamber. You can also replace the accelerator pump sprayer from 30 to 40. At the beginning of acceleration, the dynamics will be especially noticeable, with an almost unchanged gas mileage.
- In the primary chamber, we change the main fuel jet (GTZH) to 125, the main air jet (GVZH) to 150. If there is a lack of dynamics, then in the secondary chamber we change the GTZH to 162, and the GVZH to 190.
More specific jets are selected for the engine that is installed on the car.
If you want to make drastic changes to the fuel supply system, you can consider installing two carburetors. In this case, the fuel will be distributed more evenly over the cylinders. For improvements, you will need two intake manifolds from Oka, as well as two identical carburetors, for example, Ozone.
Ignition system
In the ignition system, as a rule, they change the contact distributor to a non-contact one with the installation of related elements (candles, wiring, switch). Candle wires are of good quality (Finwhale, Tesla). Equipping the motor with a contactless ignition system will ensure not only easy starting, but also generally trouble-free operation of the power unit, since there are no mechanical contacts in the contactless distributor that have to be cleaned and adjusted from time to time.
Finalization of the cylinder head
In the process of tuning the engine, the head of the block is not left without attention. In this mechanism, the channels are polished both for the fuel inlet and for the exhaust gases. During this procedure, not only the cross section of the channels is increased, but also all protruding parts are removed, making the transitions smooth.
In addition, the cylinder head is equipped with a sports camshaft. Such a shaft has sharp cams, through which the valves open more, which contributes to better gas exchange and an increase in engine power. At the same time, stiffer springs should be installed, which will prevent the valves from sticking.
One of the improvements to the block head is the installation of a split camshaft gear. This detail allows you to more accurately adjust the gas distribution mechanism and thereby increase the power of the power plant.
Engine block
Improvements to the motor block are aimed at increasing the volume of the latter. Larger volume increases the power and dynamics of the engine. Higher power during the operation of the vehicle provides comfort, since high torque allows you to spin the motor less due to the fact that traction appears at lower speeds. You can increase the working volume in the following ways:
- change in the diameter of the cylinders;
- increasing the piston stroke by replacing the crankshaft.
Tuning the VAZ 2102 engine can be done both with the help of serial parts, and with the use of special elements designed specifically to improve the performance of the motor. If we consider as an example a “penny” power unit, then the cylinders can be bored up to 79 mm in diameter, and then piston elements from 21011 can be installed. As a result, we get an engine with a volume of 1294 cm³. To increase the piston stroke, you will need to install a crankshaft from the “troika”, and the piston stroke will become 80 mm. After that, connecting rods shortened by 7 mm are purchased. This will allow you to get an engine with a volume of 1452 cm³. If you simultaneously bore and increase the stroke, you can increase the volume of the VAZ 2102 engine to 1569 cm³.
It should be borne in mind that, regardless of the installed block, boring more than 3 mm is not recommended, since the cylinder walls become too thin and the engine life is significantly reduced, and there is also a possibility of damage to the cooling system channels.
In addition to the procedures described, it is necessary to install shortened pistons and use gasoline with a higher octane rating.
Video: increase in engine size on the "classic"
Introduction of turbocharging
One of the tuning options for classic Zhiguli is the installation of a turbine. Like any other major modifications to the car, the installation of a turbocharger will require a considerable investment (about 1 thousand dollars). This mechanism provides air supply to the cylinders under pressure through the exhaust gases. Due to the fact that a carburetor engine is installed on the “deuce”, this causes certain difficulties:
- Since the combustible mixture is supplied to the cylinders through the jets, it is quite problematic to select the necessary element to ensure the normal operation of the engine in all modes.
- On a turbocharged engine, the compression ratio increases, which requires an increase in the volume of the combustion chamber (installation of additional gaskets under the cylinder head).
- The correct adjustment of the mechanism will be required so that air is supplied according to engine speed. Otherwise, the air volume will be excessive or insufficient in relation to the volume of fuel in the intake manifold.
Tuning of the exhaust system VAZ 2102
During the tuning of the classic "two", the exhaust system should also be improved. Before you start making changes, you need to decide on the goals to be pursued. There are several ways to tune the exhaust system:
- audiotuning. This option implies an improvement in the sound of the exhaust at the outlet of the muffler. A car that has a sporty sound, in combination with external tuning, is always considered stylish and original. In this case, a straight-through muffler is installed instead of a regular muffler;
- visual. This method allows you to improve the appearance of the exhaust system. The cost of such changes will be minimal, since you only need to purchase a muffler tip made of chrome-plated stainless steel;
- technical. It is this option that increases the power. Such improvements are carried out by specialists who have the appropriate equipment and knowledge at their disposal.
An exhaust manifold
Finalization of the exhaust manifold, as a rule, involves the processing of channels and their grinding with a file and cutters. It is also possible to install a factory "spider". Structurally, such a part is made of intertwined and interconnected pipes. Installation of the product allows you to better purge and clean the cylinders from exhaust gases.
Pants
The downpipe, or as many motorists call it "pants", is designed to connect the exhaust manifold to the resonator. When installing a direct-flow silencer on a VAZ 2102, the exhaust pipe will have to be replaced due to the increased diameter of the silencer. Thus, the exhaust gases will exit without resistance.
Forward flow
A co-current or direct-flow muffler is an element of the exhaust system, through which it is possible to avoid the occurrence of counter-current, i.e., the combustion products move in one direction. The straight-through muffler looks nice and sounds impressive. The product under consideration is made of pipes of increased diameter and has smoothed bends and a smaller number of welds. There is no noise absorber in the pipe, and the noise is directly damped by the geometry of the pipe itself.
The design of the forward flow is aimed at making the exhaust gases come out of the motor more easily, which has a positive effect on increasing efficiency and power, albeit not by much (up to 15% of the motor power).
A lot of car owners are engaged in tuning their cars, and not only foreign cars, but also old Zhiguli. Today, a wide selection of various elements is offered to improve and modify the car. Based on your capabilities and needs, you can create the perfect car for yourself. A lot of tuning can be done with your own hands. However, if it comes to changing the technical characteristics of the car, then it is better to entrust this work to specialists.
