Tuning the Lada Kalina station wagon - what to pay attention to if you do it yourself

Some may think that the station wagon Kalina is not a very good candidate for deep tuning. After all, the purpose of this car is leisurely city driving, and not participation in street racing. However, there are many enthusiasts who are not satisfied with certain characteristics of their station wagons. And they start tuning them. Let's figure out how they do it.

• Tuning of chassis and brakes
• Work on the appearance of "Kalina"
• Interior tuning
• Headlights
• Trunk and doors

  Video: illumination of Lada Kalina

LED Strip Light

In addition, an excellent addition to all of the above tuning options to complete the interior improvement picture is to install new lighting around the entire perimeter of the cabin. To do this, you will need to lay a diode strip of the desired color (or different shades) and connect it to a standard battery, that is, the on-board network. Additional lighting due to the LED strip will give the interior an attractive appearance and highlight all the changes made.

The following tuning of the Lada-Kalina interior is carried out with your own hands:

• Installing a diode strip around the perimeter of the car allows you to provide additional lighting for literally the entire interior. The brightness and shade of the backlight directly depend on the LEDs you have selected. This lighting option allows you to increase illumination by an average of two or even more times. If necessary, you can install separate ribbon inserts into the roof of the cabin, and it is quite possible to create the effect of a “starry sky”.
• Attaching an LED strip to the elements of the front dashboard, in its lower part, allows you to additionally illuminate the areas at the feet of the driver and passengers. This tuning will increase the comfort of being in the car.
• Also, in some situations, the LED strip is mounted on the car body. Most often, such lighting is used as auxiliary or even main running lights. However, such tapes are often exposed to external mechanical influences from the environment, which is why they can quickly fail.

If you want to become the happy owner of an original and stylish car and proudly drive on the roads, tuning will help you with this. Such improvements will help improve not only the appearance of the machine, but also increase its efficiency. You are guaranteed the envious glances of all surrounding car owners!

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Work on the appearance of "Kalina"

Tuning the appearance can also be divided into several stages.

Replacement of wheel rims. Almost all motorists remove the standard steel wheels from the Kalina and replace them with cast ones. They are much more beautiful. But at the same time they are practically beyond repair. After a strong blow, such a disk cracks, and all that remains is to throw it away. There is one more nuance associated with disks: experts do not recommend installing disks with a diameter exceeding 14 inches on the Kalina. Too large discs have a detrimental effect on the aerodynamics of the car and reduce braking efficiency.

Alloy wheels look beautiful, but their maintainability tends to zero

Installation of body kit. This word here means a set of bumpers, arches and sills purchased from a specialized tuning studio. Most often, Kalinas are equipped with kits from EL-Tuning, which has two advantages: a wide range and an affordable price.

Installation of spoilers and roof rails. The driver can either purchase spoilers or make them himself. These parts can be made of plastic, carbon, polyurethane foam and other materials. At the same time, the influence of the spoiler on the aerodynamics of the station wagon body is minimal. They are needed only to improve appearance. Rails are metal strips in a plastic shell that are attached to the roof of the car. There is no need to make them yourself, since any auto parts store has a wide range of these parts.

The spoiler on Kalina performs a purely decorative function, having little effect on aerodynamics

Replacing mirrors. Not everyone likes the standard mirrors on Kalina either. Therefore, drivers often change them to mirrors from Granta. The second option is also common - installing special overlays that completely change the appearance of standard mirrors. They are made from both chrome steel and plastic. Sold at tuning studios. Cost - from 700 rubles.

Replacing door handles. The standard handles on the Kalina are plastic, and it’s difficult to call them beautiful. Drivers replace them with more presentable handles, deeply recessed into the door. Most often they are painted to match the body color. But they also come in chrome, a set of which costs from 3 thousand rubles.

External tuning of Lada Kalina, Kalina 2 | motorring online store

Would you like a brief history of the LADA Kalina model? The development of the car at AVTOVAZ began in 1993. In 1998, the designed model was named “Kalina”. Serial production started only on November 18, 2004. A total of 5 years to give the car a name, and 11 years to develop it. Not fast!

But it is worth noting that at that time this model was truly new for AVTOVAZ: a new platform, a new level of comfort and quality and a new design. By the way, about the design: the first generation of the model was made in the so-called “biodesign”, which was fashionable in the global auto industry right in the early 90s, when the model began to be developed. But after 11 years, the trends changed; the exterior of the car at the time of its release seemed outdated to Russians, but there were many people who liked this car. For the rest, external tuning became the solution! By the way, LADA Kalina quickly became a real popular and mass car, so there were never any problems with the range of tuning for this car:

• radiator grilles and bumper grilles
• side mirrors (including electric ones) and covers for them
• "sabers"
• door handles and trims
• eyelashes and overlays for lamps
• PTF frames
• spoilers
• door moldings
• alternative optics
• bumpers
• lockers
• towbars
• roof racks
• and other.

The manufacturer managed to modernize the design of the model when the second generation of Kalina was born in 2020. Despite the fact that the overall power structure of the body has not undergone any changes (including doors, windshield), the car received complex-shaped headlights and lanterns and a massive bumper with a powerful radiator grille. You should be careful with tuning the “second generation”, since the exterior of this generation turned out to be quite successful.

By the way, on the basis of the LADA Kalina 2 station wagon and hatchback (the second generation sedan was never produced), small-scale modifications (a kind of factory tuning) also appeared, which turned out to be very popular in the market. On the “base” of the station wagon, they made a “pseudo-crossover” Kalina Cross - an all-terrain station wagon, which, in addition to high ground clearance, also received “off-road” appearance modifications. And the hatchback got sporty variations – Sport and NFR.

What conclusion do we draw? “Kalina”, despite its popular name, is excellent for exterior modifications, that is, external tuning.

Transformation of the body of a dull budget car

Almost all budget cars have inexpressive body features. This is because creating sharp lines significantly increases the cost of production. You can solve the problem with a dull appearance by installing a body kit. A high-quality, correctly selected body kit allows you to:

• Visually make the body larger.
• Increase the prestige of the model.

Today there are quite a large number of different body kits on sale that can make a car almost unrecognizable. At the same time, we note the features of purchasing ready-made sets:

• Their cost is relatively low. Due to the use of cheap plastic, manufacturers significantly reduce the cost of the body kit. In addition, in many cases you will have to carry out the paintwork yourself, choosing the paint to match the body color. Therefore, many people decide to purchase ready-made kits rather than create them themselves.
• Correct geometry, precise dimensions, reliable fastenings are signs of a high-quality body kit. It is quite difficult to independently produce a high-quality body kit, since even the smallest mistakes cause defects.
• Design development is carried out by professionals - another reason why ready-made sets are popular. A properly designed body kit will make the car truly attractive.
• Installation is simplified due to the correct placement of fasteners. As practice shows, installing a purchased set of body kits takes a relatively small amount of time. Of course, in some cases it is necessary to make improvements, but they are not significant.

You can make the exterior more attractive by installing various little things, for example, chrome handles. You can protect the body by installing plastic covers on the wheel arches.

Sidebar: Important: For many years, tuning has been very popular, which involves installing stylish large-diameter rims. There are a variety of options available for sale: painted, chrome-plated or simply steel

Eliminating air pockets in the radiator

Since the system in question is absolutely sealed, getting rid of air is not so easy. The car must be placed on any inclined surface with the front facing up (the steeper, the more effective). You should warm up the power unit until the second circulation circle opens, move the temperature regulator to the maximum position, direct the air flow into the cabin and activate the fan at second speed. Next, increasing the engine speed to 4.5-5 thousand, we hold it for some time.

Then the pedal is released until the idle speed appears. If the problem is not completely resolved, the procedure should be repeated.

Despite the fact that modern domestic cars have updated characteristics, some factory defects are still present. Modification of the cooling system on the Lada Kalina is available in several ways and helps to avoid the formation of air locks. Moreover, the procedure does not require significant financial investment.

Epilogue

While you were tinkering in the garage, searching for information on the Internet, spending your hard-earned money in a spare parts store, the team of engineers also did not rest on their laurels, but worked and worked. And here it is - a miracle: the all-wheel drive Lada Kalina Turbo. The declared engine power is 197 hp. With.

The power unit on the new modification is located transversely with the center differential. The Lada Kalina Turbo is equipped with a forced locking viscous coupling and an increased friction differential on the rear axle. The rear diagonal independent suspension was designed specifically for Kalina.

The increase in power was given not only by the turbine, but also by a more advanced cooling system, new connecting rods and pistons. All improvements made provide a quick start, instant acceleration, excellent steering response and road stability. In addition, many “modern gadgets” are installed on board, which brings the new model closer to its global counterparts. The new car may go on sale in mid-2015; its final cost may be twice that of the standard Lada Kalina and exceed 600,000 rubles.

And in November 2014, a pilot assembly of the first Lada Vip and Vip super was launched. 40 cars will be assembled, a consumer test will be organized for the first time, which will involve members of the Lada Kalina fan club, journalists and even the plant management. After running in the first pilot cars, identifying and eliminating “weak” points, serial production will begin.

So maybe you shouldn’t run ahead of the locomotive, or rather, ahead of the team of the domestic auto giant, but should you wait? After all, there are still a lot of interesting models in development by the Ladovsky team, and the hour is not far off when the Japanese will buy our cars en masse without having driven them on the roads of Japan.

Technical features of the system

The unified layout and closed design of the engine cooling system (SOD) of the Kalina are also characteristic of other VAZ models. The system is designed to remove thermal energy from heated engine elements using antifreeze or other coolant.

The SOD consists of the following functional parts.

1. Cooling radiator. Reduces coolant temperature due to the flow of cold air masses.
2. Fan. Used for rapid cooling of antifreeze in the Kalina cooling system.
3. Expansion tank. Designed to compensate for the volume of coolant (coolant). The need for this unit is related to the expansion/constriction property of the coolant.
4. A pump or centrifugal pump, which is responsible for the forced circulation of antifreeze through the appropriate channels.
5. A thermostat whose task is to regulate the volume of antifreeze in the Kalina cooling system.
6. Temperature sensor involved in SOD control.

The operation of the cooling system is based on the close interconnection of various parts, elements and sensors, including devices that are designed to measure oil temperature. The passage of coolant in a large or small circle depends on the engine temperature. In the first case, antifreeze passes through all components of the SOD, except the radiator. With such circulation, the thermostat is closed. As the engine temperature rises, this element gradually opens. The antifreeze, having passed a large circle, enters the radiator. The latter device is cooled by oncoming air masses. If this is not enough, a signal is sent to the ventilated unit, which begins to forcibly direct air masses to the cells.

The cooled liquid enters a small circle. Next, taking into account the engine temperature, the antifreeze automatically circulates in a small or large circle. At the same time, the optimal operating temperature is maintained, which should be in the range of 95-105°C. This factor has a direct impact on the performance of the Kalina stove. In this case, it will not be able to supply warm air masses into the cabin.

If there are any doubts about the operation of the ODS, you need to diagnose the car, finding out the causes of the malfunction. You can fix the breakdown either with your own hands or with the help of a car mechanic.

conclusions

Despite the fact that VAZ has recently invested quite a large amount of money in the development of new technologies and the creation of new models that are competitive with foreign analogues, today cars produced under the Lada brand are often subject to tuning. This is due to a lot of factory defects and many other problems that arise directly during the operation of the car. If desired, the Lada Kalina can be changed almost beyond recognition, but this may require quite a lot of time and effort. Does it make sense to invest a large amount of money in such a station wagon? A very difficult question. In some cases, investments and the cost of the car itself would make it possible to purchase a foreign car.

Salon

Changes in the interior space directly depend on the preferences of the car owner. For long trips, Kalina lacks sound insulation and comfortable seats. The seats can be taken from another car or the existing ones can be modified by adding lateral support and increasing the lower part.

To travel short distances, the Kalina must be equipped with a good stereo system and additional interior lighting (back row lighting, front passenger and driver foot lighting). Another way to change the appearance of the interior is to change the color scheme of the dashboard. This can be done by covering its individual parts with vinyl film.

Car tuning emphasizes the individuality of its owner. Makes the car unique and noticeable. The changes made should not impair safety or make the car less comfortable; otherwise, each owner can make changes according to his needs and his understanding of comfort.

Rear sofas - what to replace them with in the VAZ 2110?

If everything is approximately clear with the front seat options, then the rear sofas require a special approach. We are talking about an unconventional size and rather strange types of fastening of a sofa from AvtoVAZ. If you are far from automotive, it is better not to modify the rear seats yourself. To do this you will need the help of specialists

It is important to find a car of the same size, as wider cushions and backrests will have to be redesigned. The installation process is quite complicated:

you need to choose good rear sofas from models such as Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai Solaris, KIA Rio, Renault Logan, and you can also pay attention to Toyota Corolla; Next comes the dismantling of the seats of your car, which is not particularly difficult - just unscrew a few fasteners to get all the structural parts without any difficulties; Next, you should try on new seats, it is quite possible that you will have to order their re-upholstery at a studio, since it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to guess the size perfectly; the next step is the installation of fasteners, it is necessary to remove the fastening parts from the VAZ seats and rearrange them on the purchased pillows and backrests for high-quality fastening; after that, all that remains is to install the finished seats in place and enjoy the updated interior of your car, also don’t forget to take a photo and share it on the forums and in the logbook.

Of course, this sounds much simpler than it is done. The process may take more than one day, especially if the seats need to be altered, shortened or lengthened. When choosing seats for the rear of a car, it is best to buy a whole interior set. This will help significantly reduce the cost of further alterations. After all, if you install chairs of different colors, you will have to sew covers or change the upholstery and spend extra money.

Paintwork – finishing line

Why cars of domestic origin do not look as attractive as their foreign counterparts. In part, it all lies in the low-quality paintwork and the choice of dull colors. You can make your station wagon more attractive by performing paintwork. Of course, this stage is the final one.

The features of painting and varnish work include the following points:

1. All remnants of the old coating should be removed.
2. To carry out high-quality work, special equipment is required, as well as a clean box that does not contain dust and debris. It is worth remembering that if debris gets on the surface during the painting process, then such a paint coating will not last long.
3. It is also important to properly prepare the surface for the work in question.

It is quite difficult to carry out high-quality paintwork yourself, but it is possible if you have the required equipment. As practice shows, after such an improvement the car looks much more attractive.

Chip tuning Lada Granta

An undoubted advantage to engine performance will be competent chip tuning of the Lada Grant. Reflashing the electronic engine control unit will also give the car an additional increase in power, but what is more important in this case is, perhaps, the elasticity of operation, engine life and efficiency. An excellent solution could also be to install an electronic gas pedal on the Grant.

This will not only increase the sensitivity of the engine and reduce the reaction time to movement of the accelerator pedal, but will also make driving more comfortable. Precise fuel dosage will ensure both efficiency and improved vehicle dynamics as a whole. In addition, electronic gas pedal kits will allow you to regulate and switch engine operating modes based on the driver’s personal preferences.

Experts' opinion

Vitaly. I bought this car to drive to the country. Even such a short trip turned out to be a real test. The whole point is the almost complete absence of insulation. Friends advised me to isolate myself if I have time. It was summer, I decided to spend a couple of days at the dacha in the garage. I was pleased with the result. Of course, not ideal, but better than it was.

Dmitriy. I bought a Lada Kalina, a friend was selling it, or rather, he gave it away almost for nothing. After several months of use, he said that he definitely wanted a foreign car. I decided to invest a little and make a car suitable for use out of Kalina. As a result, a few thousand costs, a couple of months, and I have a comfortable, spacious station wagon.

Alexei. The first car I bought for myself. Money is tight, but I've been involved in cars since childhood with my father. What I want to say is that you can’t do everything at once, but you need to plan the sequence. For example, if the interior is being modified, then the interior is insulated first, and only then other aspects.

Glory. I don’t know how we feel about tuning, but we received Kalina in a deplorable state. I had to almost completely rebuild it, replace everything, install some that weren’t original, and only then did I start driving. There is no talk about comfort, but for my work, the main thing is reliability and maintainability.

Lighting

The interior lighting of the Lada Kalina leaves much to be desired. Only the front part of the car is equipped with a small lamp. The rear area of ​​the cabin does not have any lighting devices. According to numerous reviews, tuning the interior of the Lada-Kalina hatchback includes installing a rear row light, which an LED strip will help with. You can connect it to the front lamp, and hide the wiring under the ceiling card. For convenience, you can mount a separate switch in the rear row area. Thanks to this, passengers have the opportunity to turn it on themselves if necessary.

Basics of restyling and quality improvement

After eliminating possible nuances, you can begin more global changes to your beloved Kalina. As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of options and the limits are only limited by our imagination and wallet. If we move from small to large, then it is possible to highlight the following points when tuning the Lada Kalina:

• installing deflectors on the doors - this allows you to drive in rainy weather with the windows slightly open, ventilate the car without excess moisture, and even smoke;
• a mesh in the luggage compartment - useful when transporting a large number of small items that can be secured from unnecessary rattling and rewinding;
• battery mat – prevents body corrosion that may occur under the battery due to the possible consequences of acid leakage;
• pedal covers – prevent feet from slipping, which can help to prevent accidents;
• roof rails and crossbars – complement the appearance of the car and allow you to carry additional cargo on the roof;
• door sill covers – give an additional aesthetic appearance and protect the body from corrosion;

• covers for headlights and radiator grille – give an additional aesthetic appearance;
• front and rear bumpers - available today in a wide range, designed to modify the appearance of the car, as well as strengthen it;
• overlays for arches - again change the appearance and protect against aggressive influences, such as impacts from small particles of the road surface;
• moldings – give an aesthetic appearance to the car and protect from damage;
• Spoilers - in addition to giving the car a sporty look, in some situations they can affect its aerodynamics.

I would also like to mention the options for tuning the interior of the Lada Kalina, depending on the capabilities of its owner.

You can deliver additional seat covers, heating elements, various sensors, music, anti-reflective coating on windows and much more.

With a solid budget, tuning Kalina cars can turn it into a rocket. Like any other modern car, Kalina can be changed by chip tuning the on-board computer.

Interior tuning

Car owners also make a lot of changes to the Kalina’s interior.

Replacement of upholstery. The standard interior trim in Kalina is a combination of plastic inserts and leatherette. Many tuning enthusiasts remove the tabs and replace them with leatherette. Connoisseurs of comfort also get rid of leatherette, replacing it with velor or carpet. These materials can transform the interior, but they cannot be called durable.

Replacing seats. When a car undergoes deep tuning, it rarely happens without replacing the standard seats with sports ones. They are more suitable for the aggressive driving style for which the car is being prepared. Anatomical Kalina-Sport seats with high headrests and back support are in great demand. The cost of one such seat is from 7 thousand rubles.

Tuning enthusiasts often install sports seats on Kalina, making aggressive driving easier.

Dashboard and steering wheel trim. To add individuality to the dashboard, Kalina owners usually use vinyl film. Film painted to look like carbon is in particular demand. It looks very stylish on the dashboard. But there is also a minus - after 5 years, even the highest quality vinyl film becomes unusable. As for the steering braid, you can purchase it at any specialized store. The range of braids is now very wide.

Additional interior lighting. For illumination, various LED strips are used, connected to the vehicle’s on-board network. The cost of one such tape is from 400 rubles. Most often, additional lighting is installed on the floor of the car. Its purpose is not only aesthetic, but also practical: if the driver drops some small item on the floor of the cabin, it will not be difficult to find it.

They started lighting door handles in the Kalina cabin just a couple of years ago

Tuning of chassis and brakes

The Kalina's chassis underwent major modifications at the design stage. So it is rarely subjected to deep tuning. Basically, drivers are limited to these measures:

• Additional fasteners and support “sports” bearings of the SS20 brand are installed on the steering rack of the front suspension;
• The standard front struts are replaced with more reliable ones. Most often, racks from Plaza are installed;
• Springs with reduced pitch are installed on the suspension. This allows you to improve the car's handling;
• Kalina's standard brake discs are replaced with sports ones, the diameter of which is larger. Usually drivers install wheels from LGR or Brembo. They are more than enough to ensure safe driving in an aggressive style;

  
  Brembo discs are best suited for those who prefer an aggressive driving style.

• The standard synchronizers in the gearbox are replaced with reinforced sports synchronizers. This increases the reliability of the box and extends its service life;
• a new clutch is installed. Preference is given to units with carbon, ceramic or Kevlar discs. Their wear resistance is much higher, and such a clutch can withstand enormous loads from a “pumped” engine.

Design solutions.

The appearance of the Kalina corresponded to fashionable trends at that time; biodesign was very popular in the 90s, thanks to which the front of the car turned out to be “cute and smiling.” Thanks to its smooth lines and rounded shapes, the car looked quite modern and harmonious, as evidenced by the fact that it was in demand not only in Russia, but in countries such as Germany, for example.

In addition to the exterior, the designers abandoned previous interior developments, which did not at all match the appearance of the car. This is how the updated interior appeared, which was designed using the latest equipment in mathematical models. The spaciousness and ease of seating of the Kalina were many times higher than the level of previous models.

They didn’t skimp on Kalina’s interior design at all, as a result of which the interior turned out to be not only modern, but also very ergonomic.

Let's move on to specific examples. One of them is the seatback tilt adjustment mechanism. These mechanisms are manufactured by the German company Keiper, which specializes in the development of these units. This is not the only example of the participation of foreign companies in the development of the Kalina’s interior; the seats were also designed with the help of other foreign companies.

In the late 90s, the Kalina filling differed in many ways from its relatives:

• instrument panel lighting with LEDs;
• electric reverse gear lock;
• factory air conditioner, which could regulate the temperature itself;
• light switch;
• new generation headlights;
• recirculation of the heating system and ventilation system.

The design of the platform is what really did not give the designers freedom of action. The steering rack is located quite high and is attached to the engine shield. Because of this, it is problematic to balance the driving performance of the car. By experimenting with the suspension, Kalina managed to give it precision when cornering, unlike the VAZ-2110.

At first, the Kalina was equipped with an eight-valve 1.6-liter engine.

However, everything can't be perfect!

The first cars became famous for the fact that up to 50% of their power steering units were faulty, they simply failed! This significant flaw caused a lot of noise among the people, because there were cases when cars turned completely in the wrong direction.

Later, of course, this defect was corrected by the Kalina designers. The front of the production car was slightly modified, but the light and smooth steering wheel was appreciated (mostly by women). Electric power steering instead of hydraulics is the right solution for Kalina.

Thus, through experiments with the internal and external appearance of the Kalina, by 2001 it had acquired its final form. The changed appearance of the Kalina was very reminiscent of the Opel Corsa, and the sedan was similar to the Chevrolet Corsa.

Ultimately, the designers came up with a car tailored for the B-class. It could be compared to the Fiat Palio and Renault Symbol. However, Kalina turned out to be more affordable in its price category and more compact.

So, VAZ managed to create a new generation car, which was different from its predecessors in almost every way, even though the platform was not the first freshness. In Kalina-2, which is successfully used today, a fairly large number of technical solutions remain from the old version of Kalina.

Suspension

There are currently a large number of solutions for improving suspension on the market. To implement them, there is no need to modify the body, but by installing them, you can significantly increase the suspension stiffness and adjustment range. The introduction of adjustable struts will significantly improve the car's handling. Adjustment can be either mechanical or pneumatic. The latter option is more expensive due to the high cost of additional equipment that is necessary for its operation. But it is more practical due to the fact that you can change the car’s ground clearance without leaving the cabin. The most inexpensive option for improving the suspension would be to replace rubber silent blocks with polyurethane ones. This will simultaneously improve the stiffness of the suspension and extend the life of the silent blocks.

Torpedo

The dashboard is considered one of the important elements of the interior. For tuning the interior of Lada-Kalina, two main options are used. The first, which costs a budget, is to buy a special panel trim and attach it over the standard dashboard. This option is considered inexpensive because during its installation it may be difficult to select the exact dimensions. Therefore, the overlay will have to be trimmed a little. This is a rather complex and difficult process, which, if done incorrectly, can completely ruin the appearance of the salon. The second option is to purchase a completely new dashboard. In this case, installation will not take much time. However, you will need to spend a lot of money.

Trunk and doors

There is also room for improvement in the doors and trunk of the Kalina.

Trunk light. The standard luggage compartment lighting in Kalina has never been particularly bright. Drivers solve this problem either by replacing the standard light bulbs with more powerful ones, or by installing LED lighting on the luggage rack.

Drivers often illuminate the luggage rack with LED strips

Audio system installation. Music lovers often place speakers and a large subwoofer in the trunk to more accurately reproduce low frequencies. But after installing such a system, nothing else will fit in the trunk. So this tuning option is suitable only for real music lovers. Many people try to compensate for the lack of space in the trunk by installing a luggage box on the roof of the car. But this is a big mistake. Additional luggage space appears, but all efforts to tune the car go to waste. The box literally “presses” the car to the ground. An optical illusion occurs, and it seems that the car has become much lower.

Replacing door cards. Standard door trim panels can be replaced with more presentable and beautiful ones. Door cards are also changed when powerful speakers are installed in the doors. In this case, the panels will have to be seriously modified by cutting additional holes in them. Be that as it may, there is no shortage of door cards today. In the store you can purchase a set for every taste, color and budget.

To install speakers, door cards will have to be changed or seriously modified

Video: illumination of Lada Kalina

VAZ Kalina station wagon - tuning as a means of transformation

Cars of the Kalina series have proven themselves well on Russian roads. If you add tuning to their practicality and unpretentiousness, you will get an excellent car that will look great in a diverse traffic flow.

1 History of the five-door Lada Kalina car

The Volga auto giant began mass production of the VAZ 1117 Lada Kalina station wagon in 2007, and the car was first presented at the famous auto show in Germany in Leipzig a year earlier. The seventeenth model is currently the last in this series. The continuation of this VAZ line should be the Lada Kalina Cross.

VAZ 1117 Lada Kalina

2 How to make a standard car exterior original and expressive

If funds allow, you can try airbrushing the body. Which one? It all depends on your tastes and preferences. But we advise you to avoid unnecessary display and provocative drawings in the form of grinning predators and half-naked girls. The car will be decorated with various interweaving patterns, ornaments, and natural compositions. Of course, you can’t do this with your own hands.

The station wagon will receive further improvement by replacing the standard wheels with more elegant alloy wheels. VAZ Lada Kalina will look more presentable with black or metallic wheels. You can put your car in low-profile tires. Just remember that it is good on flat sections of city streets or country highways. Tuning the car's headlights will also add originality.

Content

Cars of domestic origin are more often subject to tuning than others. This is due, first of all, to their low cost, as well as a large number of factory defects. Many people buy a Lada because of its affordability, and only then realize that the car has more disadvantages than its advantages. Tuning the Lada Kalina station wagon can be done independently and significantly improve some technical characteristics, as well as make the car more attractive. Let's look at all the features of improving this model in more detail.

Cover trims

If sticking special decorative trims on the dashboard does not seem enough, you can dismantle the plastic door trim yourself and improve it. For example, tuning the interior of a Lada Kalina, which imitates natural materials, always looks impressive and attractive. After removing the trim of the standard parts, cover its elements with durable vinyl or carbolic film. After the material is glued, all parts are assembled strictly in the reverse order. Most often, car enthusiasts use film with a pattern similar to the texture of wood. Let us remind you that special pads can be mounted on parts of the speaker system housing.

To do the work yourself, you will need a stationery knife, scissors and the material itself. Experts advise sticking the film directly onto the plastic.

Pre-mark the places where the holes for the buttons will be located. To do this, use a paper stencil. For convenience, remove the plastic panel. After you cut out the pattern, clean the plastic parts and degrease their surface. Only after this can the film be applied.

Improvements at the factory

The manufacturer cannot always make what will actually be effective under different operating conditions. Therefore, car enthusiasts often modify their cars on their own.

Rear shelf

In viburnum, the rear shelf is made of low-quality material, which soon leads to it being skewed. Also, if you install a speaker system in your car, then a standard shelf will not allow you to achieve good sound.

An alternative to all these problems is an acoustic shelf made of thicker materials and covered with carpet.

Weight

Masses affect not only the car’s electrical appliances, but also the operation of the internal combustion engine itself and the battery charge. Standard masses are not very effective, so it is recommended to duplicate them in order to achieve more reliable battery charging and smooth operation of the internal combustion engine.

Category: Tuning

Head optics: how to improve them?

In many ways, the exterior style is determined by the installed head optics and rear lights. The design options available at the factory cannot be called attractive, since they are still manufactured using old technologies and are of low quality.

The features of such tuning include the following points:

1. You can upgrade the existing structure or purchase a new one. Some tuning salons provide the opportunity to buy new optics and lights that are ideal for the car.
2. There are quite a large number of ways to modernize an already installed structure. An example is recommendations related to replacing a standard light source with a diode one.

Why are diode light sources so popular today? There are quite a few reasons:

• Low cost. Diode light sources are among the cheapest, which allows you to save on tuning and further maintenance.
• Attractive view. Diode strips have long been used in tuning many cars.
• Low power consumption. Due to this, the load on the installed generator is reduced and the amount of fuel consumed is reduced, and when the engine is off, the battery is less discharged.
• High reliability. The service life of high-quality diodes is quite long, since they are not negatively affected by high humidity and other influences.
• Compact sizes. Due to this, a larger number of light sources are placed in a small area.
• Long service life.

If you pay attention to new cars from almost all manufacturers, head optics and rear lights are made using diode technology. In addition, the following types of tuning of optics and flashlights are carried out:

1. Protective glass is tinted.
2. The surface of the protective glass is polished.
3. Install various eyelashes and extensions.

When performing tuning, you should remember that headlights and taillights perform an important function and are not a decorative part of the body. That is why all changes must be thoughtful.

Headlights

The standard headlights on Kalina are equipped with optics from BOSCH, and they work well. Here's what those who still want to change something in the lighting system do:

• replacement of optics in headlights. To replace the “native” optics, optical kits with white xenon illumination are installed, which are freely sold in almost all spare parts stores. But when installing such a kit, the driver must remember: he does this at his own peril and risk. These headlights produce a very powerful luminous flux that can blind oncoming drivers.
  And the traffic police officers really don’t like this. This is why many car owners slightly dim the backlight using special sprays; The xenon lighting on the Kalina's headlights shines brightly, but raises questions from traffic police officers
• replacing headlights. This is a more radical option. As a rule, headlights are changed when a new body kit is installed, with which the standard headlights do not fit well. Today you can find headlights of various shapes on sale, both LED and xenon. So any driver can choose the appropriate option.

Thermostat from grants for VAZ Kalina

How to install a thermostat from Granta on Kalina

Rules (changed on April 14, 2013): 1) Respect the worldview of others because you respect your own! 2) Do not create topics of the same type, because...

It’s hard to find something useful in the midst of a bunch of such topics! (secondary topics will be deleted!) 3) Do not flood, try to answer the questions posed clearly and on topic. 4) Mat is prohibited! Right up to the exclusion of the user from society. 5) Commercial activities are permitted with the consent of the administration

And now attention: 6) If we want to implement something, write here: 7) If we want to purchase something for Priora, then we ask here:

It is better to insert text with a small description and a link to the on-board magazine. Entries with links to the logbook without the main text will be deleted! 10) Blog here we ask questions that arose during the operation of the Priors or if we want to get advice on what and how to do! (for example: how to lower a Priora, how to change a light bulb in the glove compartment, how to make a Shumka, etc.), or maybe they just decided to share the result of how they solved some serious problem. If some kind of discrepancy appears, it is better to outline it and add a video or photo. Entries with a link to the in-flight magazine will be deleted! Entries with advice on appearance will also be deleted; after all, the blog is for urgent and fundamental issues. For example: what color should I buy the wheels? what color should I paint it? etc.

Here's everything you need to install a Grant thermostat in a viburnum

1-Thermostat

21900-1306010-00 grant 2-gasket.

Do-it-yourself: modification of Lada Grant and Kalina

The announcement of the Lad recall caused mixed reactions. Some shook their heads meaningfully: they said, this was to be expected, while others, on the contrary, regarded the news as a change for the better. After all, this is the first time that the Volzhsky Automobile Plant is conducting such a global and noisy campaign to eliminate faults.

Our opinion did not coincide with either one or the other. First of all, let’s reassure the owners: it’s okay, there’s no need to grab your head and rush headlong to the dealer. Even in the plant’s recommendations, sent to all technical centers for the modification of these models, the words “possible” and “if necessary” appear repeatedly. As confirmation: on the machine on which these flaws were eliminated, there is nothing discouraging. Therefore, we are ready to say with confidence: the promotion is largely of an advertising nature.

It is more likely to draw attention to the product than to eliminate serious design flaws

Dealers are already sending out written invitations to all owners of cars included in the recall list (by identification number - VIN) for unscheduled free maintenance. It is up to the car owner to decide whether to conduct it or not. If you are undecided, we suggest that you, together with the dealership specialists, go through all the operations and look at specific examples to see how practical this is. We will supplement the factory instructions with our comments.

Important note: the recall campaign has been launched primarily for Granta; only the operation to protect the fuel pipes is carried out for both models

review with photos and videos

Every car owner, no matter how much he loves his iron horse, periodically thinks about what modifications could improve it. A smoother and more confident ride, external gloss, excellent visibility, a powerful engine and reliable brakes, excellent acoustics - every motorist dreams of all this. And if all this can be done with your own hands, then such an “update” has no price at all. In this article we will try to touch on all the subtleties of what tuning is most often performed by owners of the Lada Kalina 2 station wagon.

What types of tuning are most common for the Lada Kalina 2 station wagon?

When deciding to do tuning with your own hands, a rare driver relies solely on the desire to create something with his own hands; most often he expects to save time and money in this way, which means that we are not talking about complete tuning, but only about partial improvement of the car.

At the moment, it is believed that the Lada Kalina 2 station wagon is the most popular passenger car in the Russian Federation. Before you start upgrading this car, we recommend that you look at the photos and video reviews that are available in large quantities on thematic websites. But first, decide on the part of the car that needs to be updated.

Installation of roof rails or special boxing

Despite the fairly large interior space of the car in question, tuning quite often involves the installation of roof rails or a special box. The features of such minor tuning include the following points:

• Rails are installed for transporting skis or other large cargo. Examples include bicycles, surfboards and much more. The cost of such an element is relatively low, but it significantly increases the attractiveness of the car and its practicality in use. When installing roof rails, it is worth remembering that they will be subject to quite a large load during operation. Therefore, you should ensure the reliability of the fastening.
• Luggage boxes today are often found on cars of foreign origin. This accessory is suitable for long trips, as it allows you to place a fairly large number of different things. It is worth considering that the luggage box is only an accessory that is used as needed. With its everyday use, fuel consumption increases significantly, as the resistance during movement increases. In addition, the luggage box makes the car look more massive.

The cost of roof rails and luggage box is relatively low, which allows you to expand the capabilities of the car at the lowest cost.

Lifehack No. 1

This is Kalina's ECU, that is, almost all of Kalina's owners have probably encountered it; those who haven't, they already know about the drawback in the location of the ECU. Initially, Kalina's ECU is located here under the panel.

And there is a stove above the ECU, and Kalina’s stove tends to leak, but we’ll talk about this later, why and how. When the radiator leaks, the heater usually floods, which means the brains of the ECU.

That is, the ECU costs, I have a Boshev one, it costs about 7 - 8000. Like any other ECU, that is, approximately, that is, any other ECU in this area costs. Here, no matter what your situation is, that is.

Here's how I solved this problem? That is, immediately when I bought the car, I got it from there, screwed it on there with these covers and installed it here.

This is how I have it located here, here I have the lighting for the legs, that is, here, I placed it under the glove compartment, there it does not bother anyone, no one kicks it, as I initially thought that they would touch it with their feet, no one doesn't hurt, doesn't interfere with anything.

That is, I secured it with two bolts, the first, the second and that’s it. That is, this is enough. It stays here, nice, warm and dry. That is, I think this should be done first of all when buying Kalina.

Because if your brain is flooded, it’s a waste of money, which is unnecessary, so first of all, those who don’t know yet, be sure to do it. It literally takes 20 minutes and will save your wallet very well.

Suspension

So, then, the second thing I would like to talk about is the suspension. How did I encounter the suspension? That is, it didn’t leak, it didn’t knock or anything, but it kind of rattled, not just knocked, it sort of rattled and rattled, it was here, there were some knocks in the supports, that’s it, and so on.

In short, I read and realized that the Grant suspension, that is, it was better designed, the Kalinovsky jambs in the supports were removed, well, in short, without hesitation, I bought Grant struts assembled with supports, with springs, everything, both front and rear.

Here. I went to Avito, searched for Grant and found a broken Grant with 15,000 miles on it, so they were bought from it, I paid 3,000 rubles for all the racks. That is, the front, the back, everything is assembled, here.

That is, the suspension was changed about six months after the purchase, that is, a year and a half later, I did not regret at all that I installed it.

Interior tuning of Lada Kalina station wagon

The primary measure in the Lada Kalina station wagon is to increase the sound insulation properties of the body. If we compare it with the fashionable Priora model, the “culprit” of our review is significantly inferior to it in this discipline. Most likely due to the lack of linings in the area of ​​the wheel arches. Some owners of station wagons do not “stress” over such a troublesome procedure as sound insulation and resort to installing more powerful audio systems. Here the owner will need to first decide on his own priorities, and then begin modernization.

Let's touch on the interior trim. AvtoVAZ provided its buyer with a relatively good solution, since the elements are upholstered in durable and inexpensive synthetics. Those who are not satisfied with the standard seat material can be upholstered in leather, which is very expensive (about 30 thousand rubles).

Also, when tuning is carried out, the owners of the Lada Kalina station wagon replace the instrument panel. The manufacturer foresaw this development of the situation and met its buyer halfway, ensuring the possibility of complete dismantling of the panel.

What budget can the owner count on if he “dared” to perform tuning of the interior space of the Lada Kalina station wagon? In ordinary cases, it is not at all more expensive in comparison with similar measures in other AvtoVAZ models.

Purpose and design features of racks

The front struts are designed to reduce the impact of the road surface on the car while driving. If the road is full of uneven surfaces, then the operation of the struts in this driving mode is especially important. The front struts, as well as the rear ones, of the Lada Kalina allow you to smooth out the vibrations that occur in the body under the influence of inertia when driving on an uneven road surface. Even if the road has a smooth surface, the shock absorbers are still endowed with the function of holding the car steadily on a given trajectory.

Over time, the front struts become unusable, and then the owner, while driving, notices the appearance of difficulties in driving the car. He also begins to feel the smallest irregularities in the road surface, during which the body tends to sway and move from the set course. Efficient shock absorbers are designed to prevent this development of events.

Before starting repair procedures, you need to familiarize yourself in detail with the design aspects of these elements of the Lada Kalina chassis.

1. The front oil struts have a two-pipe mechanism, the functioning of which is possible due to the internal movement of liquid, that is, oil. This design of the shock absorber is quite simple, but in operation a tendency to overheating has been revealed, which provokes the supports to deform. Selecting and replacing these product options is also easy.
2. The front gas-oil struts operate under the influence of gas pressure. They are very effective and allow the Lada Kalina car to gain reliable protection from shock and rocking influences.
3. Single-pipe structures. In most models, manufacturers use such versions of products in the stern suspension. Shock absorbers can please you with good heat transfer and fairly high efficiency. Disadvantages include low reliability and high sensitivity to shock loads.

The choice of product option is significantly influenced by the operating features. Primary replacement of struts in Lada Kalina is recommended after 100,000 mileage. Subsequent replacements must be carried out after approximately 80 thousand km, but we must not forget about the influence of the operational factor.