How to install a snorkel on Lada 4×4 (VAZ 2121, 2131)

06 May 2016 Lada.Online 52 483 0

Lada 4x4 is famous for its cross-country ability, but this is not the limit. Sometimes low air intake does not allow you to overcome deep bodies of water. To force ford deeper water obstacles, motorists modify their SUV. For example, they install a snorkel on a Lada 4×4.

The owners of such cars will have to decide how often they are going to drive in deep water, based on this they can:

• Make a removable, homemade snorkel;
• Buy a ready-made accessory and install it forever.

What types of snorkels are there for the field?

From an engineering point of view, a snorkel is an air intake pipe installed on the outside of the car. This device allows you to power the Niva motor up to 2 meters deep. This greatly increases the vehicle's capabilities when traveling in extreme conditions.

Based on the operating conditions of the Niva, I distinguish the following types of air intakes.

1. " Safari ". This option is intended for operating the car in the desert or sandy areas. The upper part of the air intake is installed to meet the movement of cars, which prevents grains of sand and dust from entering the power compartment of the engines.
2. " Swamp ". In this version, the upper part of the snorkel is turned against the movement of cars, the pipe supply to the filter is carried out secretly, for which the hood is cut. With this installation technology, the snorkel is protected from damage when moving from contact with branches.

Technical characteristics of snorkels

A gadget such as a snorkel (or air intake) is necessary to avoid water hammer when the car is immersed in water. It also supplies the SUV's engines with oxygen while it is in water.

When choosing a snorkel, you should pay attention to the following:

• manufacturing material.
• type of nozzle.
• main pipe diameter.
• mounting option.

The most popular models of air intakes are made of aluminum or steel. Such products are quite strong and durable, which allows the snorkel to be put into operation for quite a long time.

The upper nozzle of the snorkel is made in the form of a gander. One of the most popular nozzles are rotating ones, which allow you to rotate the air intake inlet.

The main volume of air is pumped through the main snorkel pipe, so you should pay attention to this when selecting a gadget. To power the VAZ 2121 engine, a device with a diameter of up to 60 mm will be sufficient.

Power thresholds and bumpers

Thresholds are needed primarily for jacking with a hijack (see below for what this is). Power thresholds are plus 4-5 thousand.

Bumper - or, as it is also called, “silovik”. A power bumper is an indispensable attribute of any SUV that is being prepared for off-road use. You can cook it yourself or buy it at a specialty store. It’s better, of course, to get it from a store to avoid problems with the traffic police, but it won’t be cheap.

For example, a very popular front bumper costs 25,000 rubles. It comes with headlight protection and a hole for a winch. Looks cool and the quality is top notch. But protecting the headlights also sometimes annoys the traffic police, it turns out like a kangaroo, which they like to get to the bottom of. Therefore, it is better to take a model from the OJ company - it is cheaper, 18,000 rubles and the bumper is not as noticeable as the Rif one.

Also interesting: Choosing front springs for a Chevrolet Niva, recommendations on the AutoPasker website

What can you make a snorkel from for a VAZ 21213?

There are the following options for equipping a car with a snorkel.

1. You can purchase such a gadget from well-known manufacturers. This option is made from high-quality materials and is manufactured with a well-thought-out engineering design. However, the cost of a snorkel in this case will be several hundred dollars.
2. You can purchase devices from domestic manufacturers, in which case you will save on price. However, there is no guarantee of the effectiveness of the snorkel in this case.
3. There are also homemade snorkel models. In this case, you will have to spend additional time and financial resources.

Installing a snorkel on a field

To perform this work, it is necessary to carry out the following maneuvers:

1. mark the mounting points for the air vents on the car body and drill a hole for them;
2. install the air duct in place and fit it to the body shell;
3. tighten the fastening;
4. connect the air duct to the filter using a corrugated hose.

Why do you need a snorkel on Niva 2121?

When driving through swamps or other obstacles, or in extreme conditions, a device such as a snorkel saves you from water getting into your car's engines and protects you from expensive repairs.

This product is installed on the right side of the Niva, on the frame of the wind window.

The nuances of installing a snorkel on a VAZ 2121

• The size of the air filter pipe must be larger than the size (diameter) of the snorkel.
• It is also necessary to ensure the tightness of the entire air supply system.
• Connecting a new air duct to VAZ 2121 engines has its own characteristics. When installing a snorkel, the carburetor body should be supplied with adapters; the selection of products must be made depending on the specific models.

You can make the part yourself

How to install plastic arches on a cornfield. arch extensions for the field

It happens that the parts presented in the retail chain do not fit certain parameters. In this case, a car owner with experience and experience working with tools will make a snorkel for the Niva himself. To do this, you will need to visit a plumbing store where you can purchase a pipe with the following parameters:

• D= 50 mm;
• L=0.5 m.

A drain made of stainless steel will help to install it correctly. Screws with a diameter of 3 and 6 mm are used as the main fastening material. To prevent a homemade snorkel from falling off with a sudden flow of air, you should make metal fasteners in the shape of petals. They are installed in places where the structure bends.

Final fastening occurs using M3 screws and several nuts. Correct installations are checked in a garage.

A properly installed snorkel reduces the load on engine components, improving its performance. Even if the original package did not include such a gadget, the car owner is always able to buy or make it himself.

How to make a snorkel with your own hands on Niva 2121

To set up a snorkel yourself, you need the following:

1. Prepare clamps and tubes.
2. The top should be slightly bent towards the rear of the machine.
3. Additional pipes are welded to the gadget to allow collection of atmospheric pressure, which are installed in the air intake system.

To create a finished structure, you need to have three materials: corrugation, metal and plastic.

Plastic corrugation will be easier to install due to its flexibility.

The length of the corrugation should be no more than 2 m, the joints must be securely fixed using clamps. Holes are made in the area of ​​the windshield on the driver's side for further fastening the corrugation to the pillar.

The end of the pipe is covered with a ventilation grille, the outermost part is bent and fixed with brackets.

During work, all holes are carefully coated with sealant and covered with sealing tape to prevent corrosion.

Preparing for work

Tools

First, let's select the tools necessary for the job:

• Bulgarian;
• drill;
• drill 4 and 10 mm;
• tape (preferably masking tape);
• polyurethane sealant;
• marker (preferably water-based).

Materials

• Corrugation with a diameter of 50–55 mm (for laying under the hood);
• plastic or metal plumbing pipe with a diameter of 60 mm (outer part);
• several corners;
• decorative lattice;
• clamps (for corrugation);
• self-tapping screws (for fastening to the rack and cab roof);
• sealing rubber bands.

The length of the first two points is selected empirically . Sometimes, when the engine compartment is also made from a plastic pipe, you get two elbows - one 19 cm, the second - 46 cm. If a corrugated engine compartment is used, its length is about a meter. Typically, no drawings are required to create a part.

Useful tips

1. Having installed a snorkel on the Niva, remember that now you have a car capable of moving on water and overcoming huge wetlands.
2. Do not forget also that the car has a gasoline engine and requires a properly functioning ignition system to operate. Why is it worth taking additional measures to protect power supply units?
3. In any case, avoid situations where the generator and spark plugs are flooded with water. Also, do not forget about the cooling fan; if water gets under its blades, it will be splashed all over the engine compartment.
4. Any car enthusiast knows what an important role the cooling fan plays in a car. This device protects the engine from overheating in hot weather. However, if you drive an SUV across small bodies of water, the fan can cause damage to the car, since it is not capable of spinning its blades in water. As a result of such actions, the radiator may become unusable, which is extremely dangerous when the car is moving. To solve this problem, there are viscous couplings, which already have a fan when entering a denser environment. You can also use a regular forced rejection toggle switch.
5. When lubricating spark plugs, be sure to check their condition. Car enthusiasts spend a lot of time treating the entire electrical system with sealant, but it is much easier than installing a snorkel. At the same time, silicone sealant is easy to apply and can be washed off if necessary.
6. Drivers should also pay attention to turning off their headlights. Always do this if you are going to cross a swamp or body of water, as water entering it can cause an immediate explosion. The headlights may also have sluices to drain any trapped liquid.
7. The snorkel is installed on a Niva car by experienced car enthusiasts who know how to perform a similar procedure. Drivers who do not have such experience should pay attention to sealing all systems. It is imperative to seal the hole in the hood through which the air duct will enter the engine compartment and all pipe joints. This option will not cost too much and as a result, motorists will be able to overcome fairly deep bodies of water in an SUV.
8. A snorkel is an additional device that expands the capabilities of the VAZ 2121, but not as a converter of a car into a tank or aircraft.
9. It can be recognized as one of the mandatory parts of the car, which has to overcome areas flooded with water. It is extremely necessary when participating in rilly raids. Therefore, the selection of a snorkel, its installation and operation must be taken seriously and responsibly.
10. When a homemade air intake is assembled and installed, sealing all dangerous areas, any car enthusiast will want to try his car in action. Well, good luck to you! And take care of yourself and your car.

Front suspension lift

To increase ground clearance, you need to do the following:

• Jack up the car.
• Remove the front wheel.
• Place a second jack under the ball joint and lift it so as to load the spring.
• Install the tie rod.

Tip: tighten the part with twists of steel wire. However, this method is dangerous. The tie may unwind or burst, causing the spring to suddenly straighten out and cause injury or damage to the wing.

• Loosen the shock absorber bracket.
• Unscrew the stabilizer and ball joint mounts, then remove the parts.
• Remove the spring.
• Lower the jack under the lever.
• Move the hub to the side.
• Remove the cup.
• Install spacer washers.
• Secure the cup and spring.
• Jack up the lever.
• Secure the hub, stabilizer and ball joints.
• Screw on the shock absorber.
• Install the wheel.
• Repeat the steps on the other side of the front suspension.

This completes the first part of the procedure.