Replacing the VAZ 2107 radiator grille - simple solutions to a big problem

Replacing the radiator grille of a VAZ 2107

The grille performs several functions:

— protects the radiator from damage by foreign objects;
— directs air flow, improving radiator airflow;

— prevents contact with a hot radiator;

— protects the radiator from direct sunlight;

- improves appearance, being an important design element.

Tuning

The radiator grille is one of the first components of the VAZ 2107 that undergo tuning. This decision of car owners is explained by the fact that when creating the chrome-plated radiator grille of the VAZ 2107, the designers did not take into account the fact that the hood quickly begins to rust under it. This is due to its shape. The radiator grille is the “face” of every car, so car owners want to give it an original look.

Do-it-yourself tuning of this design from 2107 is carried out using 2 methods.

1. An expensive but simple option is to purchase a ready-made grille for the VAZ 2107 radiator in specialized stores or showrooms. Here this design is presented in different variations - made of chrome, plastic, with a matte finish and in any color. As for installing this element, this process is not labor-intensive and can easily be done independently. VAZ 2107 radiator grilles are mounted on a standard analogue or instead of it. Due to the presence of mounting holes, they are easily fixed.
2. A cheap but difficult way is a hand-made VAZ radiator grille.

The second method involves dismantling the old structure. Tuning the radiator grille on the 2107 with your own hands is carried out using the following equipment: a jigsaw, scissors, cardboard or plastic, fiberglass. The central part of the part is cut out using a jigsaw. As a result, holes will appear at the fixation points. Next, you will need a thin but flexible material with which you can go around the inner contour of the workpiece. For this, experts recommend using plastic or cardboard. These are used to create a blank for a new radiator grille. Excess material is cut off.

The workpiece will initially need to be coated with fiberglass and epoxy resin in several layers. The contact points are first degreased and sanded. After the last layer has dried, the plastic or cardboard will need to be removed. The joints are puttied, sanded, primed and painted. The last stage involves tightening the grid with a mesh.

Replacement

1. The first thing you need to do is wash the car. This will make it easier for you to remove and install a new radiator grille.

2. To remove the radiator grille, use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the six self-tapping screws securing the radiator grille.

3. Remove the radiator grille from the VAZ 2107 car.

4. To remove the upper part of the radiator grille, use an 8 mm socket wrench to unscrew the four nuts securing the radiator grille to the hood.

5. Remove the radiator grille from the hood.

6. Installation of the radiator grille on a VAZ 2107 car is performed in the reverse order.

How to remove

First of all, open the hood, take the 8 key and unscrew the 4 nuts that secure the radiator grille on top

After this, you need to unscrew 3 screws from the bottom and 3 screws from the top on the front side of the radiator grille

Now we remove the grille from the car

How does the VAZ-2107 really differ from the VAZ-2105?

The two Russian passenger cars VAZ-2107 and VAZ-2105 really have a lot in common, so novice drivers sometimes confuse them.

However, the cars also have quite serious differences, the presence of which not every experienced driver thinks about. The advantages of both machines are simplicity of design, low cost, affordable maintenance and availability of spare parts on the market.

Appearance. At first glance, it seems that the appearance of the cars is almost the same. But this is only at first glance. The VAZ-2107 has a chrome radiator grille. Its dimensions extend beyond the hood. The VAZ-2105 has a plastic grille and this really catches your eye when comparing cars.

It turns out that 2107 looks advantageous because of its appearance. However, you need to understand that the pseudo-chrome coating will lose its appearance during operation. The VAZ-2105 has stampings on the trunk lid. Due to this, the luggage compartment looks more solid and attractive.

Head optics 2107 are equipped with other reflectors. Due to this, the light of the model is much better and of higher quality. The taillights are also different, but, as a rule, only experienced drivers who look closely at the existing difference can notice this. The reverse light on the first model is rectangular, while on the second it is square.

Salon

When looking at the interior of a car, you can highlight a large number of different nuances that are important and key. Thus, a different material was chosen for finishing the interior of each car.

In addition, the 2107 had completely different seats, which were more comfortable for the driver as well as passengers.

The speedometer on the Seven is designed for 180 kilometers per hour, and on the Five at 160 kilometers per hour. Of course, it is extremely difficult to accelerate the models to these indicators, but nevertheless, the speedometer differs in numbers.

The modern VAZ-2107 has a richer interior, which was thought out by the manufacturers. A large number of important additional elements have appeared that make operation comfortable and safe. The fifth model of the car did not receive any modifications during its entire production.

Engine. On the very first car models, each car was equipped with a carburetor engine. But the seven could have 1.3 and 1.7-liter units, and the five could have 1.2 and 1.6-liter engines. Along with the engine, each of the models was equipped with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.

Later, manufacturers further modified the engine on the 2107, but the engine on the 2105 remained the same and did not receive any changes. According to the developers of the domestic concern, they were unnecessary.

Bottom line. The cars are indeed very similar in appearance at first glance. But, despite this, they have significant differences that, it would seem, are not noticeable at first glance. However, drivers who operate these Russian models today understand exactly how they differ and what they have in common.

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Replacing the grille

Regardless of what goals are pursued when replacing the radiator grille, the old element will in any case have to be removed from the car.

How to remove the cladding

To dismantle the decorative element, you will need a minimum set of tools, consisting of an 8-mm wrench and a Phillips screwdriver. The work consists of the following actions:

From the engine compartment, use a key 8 to unscrew the fasteners of the upper part of the grille, after which it is removed from the hood.

In addition to decorative, the radiator lining also has a protective function. Thus, this element is an integral part of every car, including the VAZ 2107. A wide selection of radiator grilles allows you to transform and highlight the car. If you can’t find a suitable option from ready-made products, you can do the cladding yourself.

About the protective grille

The Lada, one of the latest models of the classic VAZ line, has a very distinctive protective radiator grille. Like most elements in older models, it has its drawbacks. One of which is the most significant: corrosion underneath on the hood, which needs immediate correction, otherwise the body will suffer greatly.

Tuning any protective grille consists of two options - cheaper and more expensive:

Purchasing a new part is always easier, and sometimes even more reliable. VAZ spare parts stores offer a lot of options for protective grilles:

• plastic and chrome plated;
• black and white;
• with different lattice shapes and cell sizes;
• plain and printed.

In general, for every taste. But despite this, many still prefer to do the tuning themselves.

What are they like?

On the seven you can install a new radiator grille, which can be factory-made or made by yourself. The DIY method is much more difficult, but the owner will receive a unique shape and design of the device. Materials such as carbon, plastic, chrome steel, aluminum and others are used for manufacturing. We will look at each version of radiator grilles on the VAZ 2107 in more detail below.

Regular

The sevens that came out of the Volga plant were equipped with plastic grilles with a chrome finish. In its central part there is a radiator grille emblem. The chrome coating of the product makes the front of the car stand out, but even despite this, many decide to replace the device with a tuned design. Standard installations have article number 2107-8401014.

Aluminum

The standard lining of the seven can be replaced with an aluminum structure. Aluminum has more advantages than chrome-plated plastic, which is why very often owners opt for aluminum radiator grilles. To enhance strength and corrosion resistance, the aluminum structure is made using silicon.

Stainless

Stainless steel products are also popular, as their main advantage is their resistance to corrosion. In addition, the stainless steel radiator grille on the VAZ 2107 is cheaper than an aluminum structure. The advantages also include the ease of processing of stainless steel, which ultimately allows you to get a design no less attractive than the standard one with a chrome frame.

Carbon

Carbon fiber radiator grilles are almost impossible to make yourself, so there is only one option here - buying a ready-made factory product. Carbon fiber devices are lightweight and highly durable, which has a positive effect on their service life.

Plastic

Plastic products have become very popular due to the low cost and availability of this material. The black radiator grille of the VAZ 2107 has an original look and resembles the VAZ 5 Series model. The plastic structure can be painted in any other color, for example, to match the car body, thereby achieving a unique appearance for the car.

Solid

The solid radiator grille is popular among young people and is a design that covers the entire front part of the car. Under the solid structure are the front headlights, which of course reduces the quality of road surface lighting. The use of a solid structure allows you to greatly change the appearance of the car and make it unique.

To make a version of a solid design, you will need a VAZ 2105 radiator grille, and in triplicate. They are connected, puttied and painted, resulting in a finished product that remains to be attached to the car. To secure the finished product, you will need to make a grille mounting bracket.

Homemade

You can make a unique installation for the radiator of the seven yourself. Moreover, this does not require spending a lot of time and effort, and the final installation is sometimes better than factory products. The easiest way to make a homemade radiator grill is to additionally equip it with a steel mesh with small cells or honeycombs. This mesh is located under the main cladding installation, and, if necessary, is painted chrome or black.

To connect the standard radiator grille with its complementary mesh, you must use silicone, glue or plastic clamps. The result is a modernized installation, through which the appearance of the car significantly changes.

Despite the fact that the production of the 7 stopped quite a long time ago, today a lot of not only spare parts are produced, but also decorative elements for tuning. Particularly popular today are the Fighter and Azard radiator grilles.

What types of gratings are there?

The grille can be either homemade or factory-made. The part is made of carbon, plastic, chrome steel, aluminum.

Regular

The standard decorative element of the VAZ “Seven” is made of plastic and has a coating that imitates chrome. Quite often, a factory product will have side clearances that don't line up, making the car less attractive. In this case, some owners have a desire to install a tuned part or make it themselves.

Aluminum

The material is the most versatile and durable; it is usually used in expensive cars and SUVs. Since the alloy contains silicon, this not only makes the grid stronger, but also protects it from corrosion.

Stainless

A stainless steel part has a lower cost compared to an aluminum product, and the material is easier to process. Separately, it is worth noting the attractiveness of the chrome-plated stainless steel radiator grilles. On the VAZ 2107, the trim can be supplemented with lighting from LED elements.

Carbon

Such gratings are characterized by low weight, high strength and long service life. You won’t be able to make the part yourself, so there is only one option - buying a finished product.

Plastic

Products made from this material are most widespread due to their availability and high strength. The material allows you to experiment with the exterior of a car without large financial investments. Depending on the wishes of the car owner, the plastic grille can be improved by painting it in the desired color.

Solid

The radiator trim for the “seven” can be different from the standard shape and be a solid element that covers not only the radiator, but also the headlights. For these purposes, you can use three VAZ 2105 grilles, which are connected along the length, puttied and painted. This gives the car an aggressive look. However, some car owners, in addition to installing a decorative element that completely covers the front of the car, get too carried away with tuning and tint the optics. As a result, the visibility of turn signals is reduced, especially during the day. Therefore, in the process of improving the appearance of your car, do not forget about the rules and safety.

Homemade

The simplest version of the radiator grille for the VAZ 2107 is made of plastic. Tools and materials you will need:

The old grille is taken as a basis and the excess is removed (according to its design). Then they move on to the interior: here you can use not only standard parts, but also elements made independently. A fairly popular option is to install a steel mesh that covers the entire cladding area.

When calculating the size of the mesh, the material must be taken with a reserve, since the fixation is carried out on the inside of the decorative element.

The mesh is attached in any convenient way: plastic clips, glue, silicone. It is better not to use self-tapping screws with washers, since such fasteners are not highly reliable. If during the manufacturing process you plan to install decorative elements, for example, letters, then it is best to use silicone glue for these purposes. The grille can be made in such a way that it will best suit your wishes. Everything depends only on financial capabilities, the availability of certain materials and tools.

Video: homemade radiator grille on a VAZ 2107

Tips for tuning radiator grilles

Several recommendations from this article will help you during the tuning process.

Use self-tapping screws to attach the metal mesh to the plastic grille. To prevent the grate from splitting, heat the screws with a lighter, burner or blowtorch before tightening them. At temperatures of 150 - 200 degrees, they are easily screwed into any plastic and do not lead to cracks.

Attach the plastic mesh with superglue. To do this, apply a drop of glue to the grid, place the grid on top, and a piece of cellophane film on top of it and press firmly with your finger or palm for 5 - 10 seconds. The film will protect your hand from contact with the glue. After you stop pressing, the film can be cut off using a sharp knife or scissors. The remaining glue that is squeezed out during the pressing process will not have time to harden during this time, so it will not be difficult to remove them with a clean, lint-free rag.

If you couldn't find the necessary tuning elements in a car store, don't despair. Many online stores sell various tuning elements for all car models, as well as materials for their manufacture.

Before you start tuning, make a plan and a drawing that shows what you want to achieve. This will help you choose the right materials and the necessary technology. Carefully read descriptions of such types of tuning on the Internet, this will help you avoid many mistakes.

Do-it-yourself grille tuning

Initially, you need to decide what exactly you want to change and how to do what you planned. Do you have the necessary tools and materials?

When the desire to straighten the grille reaches its climax, remove it and take it to the tuning location. There, clean off dirt and various defects. If any cracks are noticed in the element body, solder it.

The following will describe the most popular method of modification, which you can adjust according to your taste preferences:

1. Using pliers, remove elements that you think are unnecessary.
2. Thanks to a hot knife, you can also get rid of the branded badge-emblem of the automobile industry.
3. Install plastic parts in place of the resulting connector to strengthen the structure and hide irregularities.
4. If there is nothing suitable for changing the appearance of the shield from scrap materials, purchase several meters of cable channel (20 mm wide) from the store. For the VAZ-2107 radiator grille, 4 meters of material will be enough.
5. Divide the cable channel into 6 pieces, having previously measured the length of the grid elements.
6. To attach the plastic to the grille, just use Titan glue, and fill the empty spaces with glue from a gun for strength.

If you compare the old grille with the updated one, you will notice that the new one has six bars, and not four like the old version. This happened because not only the middle, but also the outer elements were covered with new material, acquiring a completely different, more stylish look

Clean up the remaining exposed part of the old grille and cover it with paint of your choice.

There is another option for modifying the grille - more complex:

1. Cut out the center piece with a jigsaw.
2. Make holes for fasteners.
3. Use thin cardboard or plastic to go around the outline of the grill.
4. Apply several layers of epoxy and fiberglass to the resulting workpiece.
5. Then remove the cardboard or plastic when it is dry.
6. Clean the contact areas with fine sandpaper and putty.
7. You can paint the grille in the color you like.

Experts recommend lubricating the part of the grille that is under the hood with grease or other suitable material to prevent corrosion.

Tuning VAZ 2107

Car tuning is a way to improve the performance of a vehicle. Moreover, this applies not only to its driving performance, but also to its exterior trim and interior. Such actions can be carried out in special showrooms (tuning studios), or independently, by car owners.

As a result of successful tuning, you can increase the power of the car without significant technical changes and give it an exclusive appearance.

Content

Despite the fact that the VAZ 2107 has already been discontinued, the popularity of this model does not decrease. First of all, this is the last representative of the classics. Affordable price also plays an important role. In addition, competent modification allows you to eliminate all shortcomings. And most importantly, most of the work can be done with your own hands. So such cars will be seen on our roads for several more decades.

What areas of VAZ 2107 tuning exist? Most often, such work is divided into three types:

• exterior tuning;
• interior tuning;
• improvement of the technical part.

External tuning

The minimum that car owners decide to do is to independently make certain changes to the appearance of the vehicle. The original bumpers of the 7& are made of plastic, so they are not very reliable or aesthetically pleasing. There are two ways to solve this problem:

• reinforcement of the finished bumper with a metal L-shaped profile;
• production of a new reinforced bumper.

During installation, the distance to the body must be increased. Such tuning will not only help make the appearance of the car more impressive, but will also protect the car from light impacts.

The next step is head optics. There are several options here: replacing the standard optics with new headlights from more modern vehicle brands. Additionally, you can equip your VAZ with anti-fog optics; replacement of only individual elements (incandescent lamps, reflectors, glass itself, etc.). One of the most popular operations is installing a lens from an additional Oka rear light; addition of optics with special decorative stickers, rims and other components.

Replacing the radiator grille will help to effectively complete the modification of the exterior. To do this, in addition to the original grille, you will need another new one. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. cut out the logo and 5 vertical strips from the first grille;
2. from the second - 5 horizontal and 4 small pieces;
3. solder small elements into the original grille in place of the manufacturer’s badge;
4. install horizontal strips;
5. paint the finished structure in the desired color.

Of course, external tuning is not limited to just these events. You can create an individual shape for the hood, change the design of the 7 door, etc. Some car owners like to apply original designs to their car using airbrushing. However, it is recommended to order it from artists who have experience in such work. You can find quite a lot of photos of interesting options on the Internet.

Interior tuning

Even fans of this brand note that the interior of the VAZ 2107 is not particularly comfortable or beautiful. Many people immediately after purchase try to replace the interior trim with more modern materials. If financial capabilities allow, then you can perform sound insulation. This immediately improves ride comfort.

Other changes affect:

• steering wheel;
• dashboard;
• seats;
• stove.

The need to replace the steering wheel is caused by the fact that it is simply inconvenient to control the car. Preference is usually given to sports steering wheels with a diameter of up to 320 mm. The installation is not too complicated, but it is responsible. Therefore, you first need to carefully study the progress of the work, watch a video about tuning the steering wheel.

The Seven has many options for upgrading the dashboard. The easiest way is to purchase and install in place of standard elements a ready-made set of accessories. If the budget is small, then the best solution is to replace the needles and scales of instruments. You can create new samples yourself, or you can purchase designer stickers.

Interior modification is rarely complete without installing lighting. LEDs can be installed on the dashboard instead of standard light bulbs. A more radical option involves a complete replacement of the backlight throughout the entire period of the panel. The main thing is that during such tuning it is worth checking that the polarity is observed and that the LEDs correspond to the voltage of the on-board network. For the seven it is 12 volts.

Those who spend a lot of time in the car will definitely replace the seats. You won’t be able to limit yourself to reupholstering them, since this measure will help improve the appearance, but the level of comfort will remain the same. It is best to give preference to sports models that follow the curves of the human body and are equipped with lateral supports. A less expensive option is to buy used seats from a good foreign car.

The operation of the stove in this VAZ model raises many complaints. The radiator itself gives off enough heat. The main problem is airflow. The left pipe does not blow through the driver's window and in winter this turns into a real disaster. The easiest option is to install a 50mm computer fan. To do this, the deflector is removed from the left pipe. A hole is cut in it to the size of the fan. After connecting the cooler to the wires, it is necessary to seal the opening as tightly as possible.

Radiator grille: device and tuning

The headlights and grille on the radiator of a car are the first thing that catches your eye when you meet a car, and one of the parts of the design that is most often subject to tuning. Improving the radiator frame is done both for beauty and to prevent rusting of the metal parts underneath. To some extent, the grille can protect the radiator from hypothermia, various debris and especially poplar fluff getting into its heat exchange plates in some regions of Russia.

The lining material can be different: for luxury cars it can be real chrome parts, for sports cars it can be a lightweight carbon structure. The “chrome” that is installed on the VAZ 2107 is plastic, an imitation of real chrome.

Below is the standard radiator grille of the VAZ 2107

If you look closely, there are gaps on the sides that may not match, which gives this design detail a slightly sloppy, torn look.

Here are examples of “exorbitant” tuning, including framing:

Or this example. It seems that the coolness of the license plate here is more shocking than the black grille with headlights and everything put together.

And in this car you can feel the power of the American engine and increased comfort. And the total price of the issue is a double frame.

Considering that this design detail can simply be bought or ordered in an online store, then with just one change of this part, leaving the bumper untouched, you can get an interesting combination:

The radiator grille is also sometimes called the grille, and the factory option is chrome. A black plastic grille is also available. In any case, its fastening is standard and is carried out in the following way:

In order to remove the grille, you need to perform the following steps:

• We take the key 8, open the hood, and unscrew the 4 nuts that secure the upper part;
• The frame is then removed from the hood.

• Take a Phillips-head screwdriver and remove three screws - self-tapping screws that secure the grille on top;
• Then the grate is removed. On the inside you can see rubber cushions at three attachment points.

Is it possible to replace chrome with a brutal, black grille? It's possible, and it's cheap too. To do this, we will carry out easy, budget tuning.

• We remove the original grille, clean it of dirt, dry it, if there are cracks or breakages, glue it back up;
• We heat the knife and cut it out, inserting small pieces of plastic into the resulting hole for strength:

• Then you buy a regular cable - a channel in an electrical store, for laying wires, 20 mm wide. This is the one that fits best.
• Then six strips of the required size are cut out and placed on the grid using a suitable adhesive, for example, liquid nails. As a result, the upper and lower frames are still taken as independent crossbars:
• Now the structure is cleaned and painted with black matte paint from an aerosol can twice. The result is a stylish black grille at budget prices.

By tuning the VAZ 2107 radiator grille, you can slightly change the appearance of your car in just a few hours.

What is the purpose of the grille?

The appearance of any car is emphasized by the front optics and radiator grille. On the seven, this detail is large in size and presented in the form of a rectangular structure. It is intended to implement the following tasks:

1. Protects the cooling radiator from mechanical damage.
2. Prevents sunlight from reaching the radiator, which would only increase the temperature of the coolant.
3. Directs the air flow to the radiator, thereby accelerating the cooling of the liquid.
4. Prevents human contact with a hot radiator.
5. Emphasizes the appearance of the car.

The shape of the grille and headlights create the appearance of the car. The standard cladding installations on the 7 are no longer attractive and make the car look ordinary. To stand out from the crowd among other cars, owners decide to change the design of the car by replacing or redesigning the front fascia.