“Niva” as it is: repair and maintenance of VAZ-21214

At the beginning of the 3rd millennium, the most significant events of the last century were summed up and named. The rapid development of VAZ-21214 cars did not pass by. Having gained fame at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, remaining something special even today, the machine has become a faithful friend and indispensable assistant for many people not only in Russia, but throughout the world.

In polls among magazines and newspapers about the best car of the century, a considerable percentage of votes were given to the VAZ-21214 Niva, as it is advanced and unique. Many experts are surprised how the creators of the Niva managed to collect so many positive qualities at the same time in one design.

VAZ 2121 - do-it-yourself body repair

The Niva VAZ 2121 became the first comfortable Soviet SUV.
Before it left the factory in 1977, off-road vehicles were used primarily for military purposes. For a Soviet citizen, an SUV was, in principle, inaccessible, and they were not available for open sale. There was an opportunity to buy decommissioned UAZs, but they were not very comfortable. The Niva revolutionized the concept of an SUV for the semi-wild inhabitants of the country of the Soviets - no one had ever seen such comfort as in a six, with the cross-country ability of an UAZ, but at first the consumer was stopped by the rather high price, and later they got used to it. Niva has become an active rural worker and city dweller - in terms of performance indicators, it is in no way inferior to the VAZ classic.

The bottom of the Niva 21213 can be partially repaired. To do this, individual places are changed or patches are installed. In this case, you will definitely need a welding machine. Semi-automatic is best. If you are replacing a separate part of the floor, you will additionally have to take a drill. She drills the rivets. No welding required.

Scheme of sequential actions:

1. Raise the car on a lift or turn it over.
2. Remove the rusty, holey area.
3. Install the repair panel.
4. Tack the panel by welding or attaching it with rivets.

Among the models of the domestic automobile industry, the VAZ 2121 stands out somewhat from the general range not only due to its excellent cross-country ability, all-wheel drive and monocoque body, but also due to the fact that the Niva is the first independent VAZ development to reach serial production. The car began serial production at the beginning of 1977 and immediately began to enjoy great success among the population not only in the Soviet Union, and later in Russia, but also in many countries both near and far abroad.

In its class, an SUV from Russia is considered the most successful model. It found its consumers in France, Portugal, Spain and Canada. And although Niva cars equipped with the French Peugeot diesel engine are in great demand, cars with the domestic 1.6 are also selling quite well.

Manufacturing of the spar amplifier

In order to correctly carry out the restoration process of the Niva 21213, an amplifier for the spar should be made. To do this, you first need to cut out a pattern from thick cardboard. Next, you need to mark the points on the paper where the bolts and clamps will be screwed in. After this, you need to cut a three-millimeter sheet of steel according to the layout using a grinder.

Next, you need to drill holes to attach the new part to the car body. During fastening, you should make sure that the piece of metal fits tightly to the spar; only after that can it be secured with bolted connections and welding around the entire perimeter of the part.

After completely assembling the car, it is necessary to coat all cleaned metal parts of your VAZ-2121 with anticorrosive. As a rule, such a coating dries within 24 hours. After this operation, the machine is ready for further operation.

What problems may arise

The fact is that to replace the engine on a VAZ-2121, you can choose almost a dozen different engines, but they are all from foreign cars. But the main problem is that you will have to do some additional work during installation, for example, install or change fasteners, add new parts. Because of this, it is not so easy to find a budget replacement option. The choice is significantly narrowed down to just a few options. In order for an engine to be suitable for installation, it must meet several conditions:

1. The engine from a foreign car must be freely placed in the Niva engine compartment. This is one of the most important criteria to pay attention to. If you have to add new parts, adjust old ones, or change the shape of the body, it’s better to discard this option. The cost of such a replacement is too high to be profitable.
2. The new internal combustion engine should not be inferior or significantly exceed the power of the old version. The maximum permissible excess power is 10-20 hp, that is, from 90 to 110 hp. In this case, the maximum power limit is a critical value, and parts with this indicator are not recommended to be installed at all.
3. The replacement must provide some benefit, otherwise it will be useless.

Which engine should you consider first?

Like many brands of cars, the body deteriorates the most during use. Main “sore spots”:

• rust under the headlights;
• lower parts of wings;
• thresholds;
• arches;
• the bottom under the driver's feet.

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I would like to talk about the last problem in more detail. The bottom under the driver's seat of the Niva deteriorates due to constant contact with water. In winter it is melted snow, in other seasons it is rainwater. The liquid impregnates the sound insulation and the metal is rubbed to holes. It is also worth paying attention to the place where the transfer case is attached to the bottom. Cracks form there.

Getting rid of scratches

Minor rust and blistered paint that appears on a car is not a reason to completely replace the body. In this case, the operation to restore the Niva can be easily carried out independently, while saving a decent amount of your own funds.

For example, scratches can be removed by polishing the paintwork. To carry out this operation, various grinding compounds and special materials are usually used. With their help, you can easily and quickly remove the top layer of paint, thereby smoothing out shabby areas on the body. Complete elimination of scratches is only possible if the outer layer of paintwork is not severely damaged. It is also not recommended to remove too much paint when restoring the Niva -2121 with your own hands.

Improved Niva

The injector installed on the Niva, although it reduces fuel consumption, is still not the most economical option in urban conditions with traffic jams and other delays. On the highway and during long trips outside the city, this is not felt so much, since the car works without stops and downtime.

Due to the unprofitability of cars in urban environments, drivers are thinking about a good and effective replacement for the old injection-type engine in their car. The best option would be a diesel engine for the Niva. It has approximately the same power characteristics, but its fuel consumption is comparatively lower. Also, diesel is less capricious in terms of fuel quality. What options from this category of motors are worth detailed consideration?

The first and most worthy candidate is the XUD 9 SD from Peugeot. This engine was used to create a modified version of the Niva - model 212151 with a French engine. It can be installed on the Niva without any problems - the fastenings of the parts and the assembly are identical, the motor fits perfectly in size, and in addition, there are some advantages from its installation.

In fact, this is the only option that suits all parameters.

Replacement

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Today, various companies offer owners of universal all-terrain vehicles to purchase assembled or metal bodies. Accordingly, the price will differ. In addition, a wide selection of colors allows each owner to choose their favorite option.

For example, an assembled body on a Niva will cost about 300 thousand rubles, but a metal frame will cost almost half as much.

Niva bodies are sold in the following colors.

Description of the design of Niva 2121 and 21213

Both cars have high cross-country ability. This is inherent in their design. Niva 2121 and Niva 21213 belong to the class of light SUVs:

• body type - station wagon;
• number of doors – 3 pcs.;
• drive - four-wheel drive;
• gearbox – 4 or 5-speed;
• ground clearance size – 220 mm;
• wheelbase - 2.2 m.

Thanks to these parameters, the car can be used in off-road conditions. Niva 21213 has similar parameters. The appearance of the car has only improved. The power unit was also replaced.

How to strengthen the spars

First of all, to restore the Niva-2121, the side members are strengthened. To carry out such an operation? you should prepare, namely:

Modified options

Since it is not always possible to supply an engine of a certain foreign car, it is worth considering imported production options that require a little modification:

1. The first candidate will again be the French engine from Peugeot XUD 11 series. Since the power of this unit is higher than that of the previous model, some changes will need to be made to the design of the Niva - replacing the gearbox. An acceptable option is a gearbox from Fiat Polonez. In addition, a good solution would be to replace the front supports of the power plant fasteners, pan and exhaust system. It is also worth replacing the drive elements with similar parts from the Chevrolet Niva.
2. There are options from the Japanese concern Toyota - 3C and 3CT. You won't have to change the transmission, but you'll have to tinker with the fastenings. Another acceptable option with modifications is 2JZ. It will be necessary to install an automatic transmission and update almost all parts of the exhaust system and engine compartment, since the model is too powerful for the standard Niva design.
3. Engines from BMW models M42-M43. To install, you will have to use a few tricks and buy a few additional parts, but the final effect will please many car enthusiasts.

Also interesting: Niva with an engine from Priora - a complete overview of the pros and cons of such a swap

Preparation for repair

It is quite possible to carry out repairs to the bottom of any Niva model yourself. Before welding a complete bottom or installing patches, dismantle the interior.

1. Remove the seats.
2. Remove the carpet.
3. Remove the old sound insulation.
4. Move the electrical wiring to the side to avoid touching the wires during repairs.

Tools you will need:

• hammer;
• welding machine;
• screwdrivers;
• electric drill;
• Bulgarian.

After removing the sound insulation, the metal is thoroughly cleaned and wiped dry. Problem areas are cleaned with a grinder. It can be replaced with fine-grained sandpaper. Then the metal surface is degreased and treated with an anti-corrosion agent.

Welding work

The first step is to remove rusty metal and corrosion. It is advisable to carry out this work with a grinder. Hard-to-reach places are cleaned using a gas welding machine. Then the metal patches are cut out. This is done with special scissors. This way you can make correct, even workpieces without torn edges.

It will be easier for two people to weld a new floor, since you will have to fix the patch and weld it at the same time. Basic rules for welding the bottom:

1. The patch is stuck at 3-4 points, and then completely scalded.
2. Short sutures are used to correct small defects. Length – 3 cm.
3. The patch is applied as tightly as possible. In gaps, corrosion quickly forms again.
4. To increase the strength of the seams, they are hammered.

After repairs, be sure to check the work done in a well-lit room. If necessary, weld the seams on the Niva again. Only after this can the seam beads be cleaned.

Geometry restoration

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If the body is severely damaged as a result of a vehicle collision, craftsmen have to restore the car to its former geometry. Metal deformation also occurs as a result of sudden temperature changes or obsolescence of the structure.

Active operation, as well as the use of a car in harsh natural conditions, will inevitably lead to rapid wear and tear of the body of personal transport. Poor quality road surfaces often lead to excessive tearing of bolted and welded joints, reducing the life of the vehicle.

If it is necessary to restore an old Niva and eliminate severe damage to its body, it will be necessary to diagnose and restore the geometry of the car using high-tech equipment in a car service center. It is impossible to perform such an operation correctly on your own in a garage.

Bottom repair without welding

Niva flooring can be repaired without a welding machine. This is done in two ways:

1. Installing a sheet metal patch. Rivets are used to secure them.
2. Application of composite materials. They contain polymer resins, reinforcing filling and a curing reaction accelerator. This material restores the mechanical strength of the area and reduces the risk of rapid rust.

Installing patches is suitable for large-scale damage. If corrosion has pinpointed the bottom, it is easier to seal the hole in the Niva with a special mixture.

How to choose a part: average prices

When choosing spare parts for Niva, look at the article number. The part must fit exactly your car model. Don't take the bottom from a Chevrolet Niva. It has different dimensions, which means the part will have to be trimmed.

When buying a new spare part, remember that the factory bottom does not have a number of elements:

• hairpins;
• fastening elements;
• bracket for the hand brake cable.

They will have to be moved from the old flooring. If you are not sure of their safety, it is better to immediately order all the related parts. The average price of the bottom in the capital is 5,000 rubles. If you want to buy a spare part cheaper, contact a VAZ car dismantling center.

Repairing the bottom yourself requires patience and time. Spare no effort in processing the metal and cleaning it from rust. Poor preparation and careless attitude towards post-repair work will negatively affect the service life of the new body element.

Major body repair

Buying a VAZ body is a great chance to save money on expensive major repairs or buying a new car. It has long been proven that it is more desirable to immediately send a decrepit body for scrap than to periodically repair it in services where they charge quite a lot of money for services of this kind.

Also interesting: Technical characteristics of the Chevrolet Niva - 1.7 engine, fuel consumption, body dimensions

To protect himself from problems, a caring driver uses preventative measures. These, in addition to anti-gravity treatment and other procedures, include strengthening.

All operations related to strengthening and restoration of the car body are very complex, take a lot of effort and time, but give an excellent result.

When it comes to upgrading the body, strengthening the side members comes first. It is often carried out using a steel sheet up to 3-4 mm thick. At the same time, the suspension fasteners are strengthened.

Let us immediately note that strengthening the side members in front is more important than ever if stiffer shock absorbers, springs and larger wheels are installed on the Niva. It is also recommended to do this after installing power bumpers and winches.

Body repair of a VAZ 2121 consists of several types of work.

Due to the specifics of its operation and design, the VAZ 2121 requires increased attention, namely increased monitoring of the condition of the body. In general, if you are the owner of a used Niva, and you intend to use it for its intended purpose for at least another couple of years, carefully examine the condition of the VAZ 2121 body, the repair of which and the strengthening of its individual elements is more a necessity than a precaution. Problem areas that you should pay special attention to are:

• The bottom, namely its corrosion and through holes in the floor (very often the car overcomes water obstacles without subsequent proper drying);
• Spars, namely for the presence of cracks (consequences of impacts with corresponding metal fatigue).

Cracks in side members usually occur in the area of ​​the fastenings:

• Steering gear;
• Pendulum;
• Engine beams;
• Front shock absorber upper bracket;
• Rear shock absorber mountings;
• Long jet rods to the very bottom of the floor;
• “House” of “Ponara” traction.

The photos below clearly show the repair of the body of a VAZ 2121, which was in use for only five years.

Restoration of the rear part of the front spar

Rear arch before repair

and after renovation

Front spar before repair

New, shiny - just like the real thing

Cracks in the most unexpected places

Complete loss of body parts

and car suspension elements

Since the work associated with restoring and strengthening the body is very labor-intensive and takes a lot of time and effort, the restoration of a car from an economic point of view can be considered profitable only when it is done with one’s own hands. This means that when buying a rotten car, even when its price is mere pennies, it is necessary to take into account the considerable future costs of restoring it. Reinforcement and replacement of parts of the floor and side members are usually carried out with patches of sheet metal 3-4 mm thick.

Ready-to-install spar patches/reinforcers

Ready-made car floor with reinforced side members

Instead of Ponar thrust

A - shaped lever

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Body care

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To extend the life of the car body and avoid costly repairs, a responsible vehicle owner carries out a number of preventative measures. Such do-it-yourself Niva restoration measures include: