The Chevrolet Niva is currently considered the most popular passenger SUV in the budget price category. This model is widely used in rural areas, as well as in “city-off-road-city” transit, showing high cross-country ability.
Nevertheless, the stock configuration of the Niva is not enough for many drivers to use comfortably - fortunately, the model is easy to tune.
Functional tuning - increasing the practicality of the car
As a rule, first of all, Chevrolet Niva owners begin upgrading their car with small parts that increase the practicality and functionality of the vehicle. After purchasing a Niva, it will not be superfluous to:
- Install body protection for off-road use - installing reinforced bumpers, installing power unit protection, as well as a guardrail can increase the strength of the car and reduce the risk of unpleasant grinding on the off-road. A set of bumpers with a reinforcing beam for the rear and front of the car will cost around 30-35,000 rubles, crankcase protection will require another 5-6,000, a steel guard - from 8,000;
- Replace the standard seats - the factory seats are quite comfortable, but driving the car off-road will quickly remove the elasticity of the padding. Standard seats quickly become loose, making them uncomfortable to use. A set of front pair of seats for a Chevrolet Niva will cost around 15,000 rubles, a set with a rear sofa will cost from 23,000. Also, after replacing the seats, it will not be amiss to install protective covers - the cost of a complete set will require another 5,000 rubles;
- Make sound insulation - if you want to travel into nature comfortably, you will have to improve the standard sound insulation of the car. It is imperative to increase the noise level in the engine compartment and lay a layer in the luggage compartment - in most cases, the manufacturer does not install vibration and noise absorbers in these places. Complete sound insulation of a vehicle will cost the owner from 15,000 to 25,000 rubles, depending on the quality of the materials used;
- Installing additional equipment - a winch, a tool box, an additional set of fog lights or spotlights - will greatly simplify life off-road. The average price of winches mounted in a car body is 8-10,000 rubles, a pair of powerful foglights or spotlights starts from 5,000 rubles and above, a box with a shovel, crowbar and ax will cost no more than 3-4,000.
It would also be a good idea to replace the head unit in the cabin with a multimedia complex with a navigation system, which, coupled with improved sound insulation, will improve the sound quality in the car. On the Russian market, a PG with navigation and a nice-quality screen starts at 4,000 rubles.
Note! A separate branch of tuning is the installation of larger tires. In most cases, wheels with a radius of up to 22 inches are installed on a Chevrolet Niva without modifications to the suspension - just install wheel arch extensions and choose the right wheels.
The total cost of converting a car to larger diameter tires will cost from 20 to 50,000 rubles turnkey. The difference in cost lies in the type and quality of off-road tires, as well as wheel materials.
Upgrading the suspension to match the new transmission
After tuning the transmission due to inertia, it is necessary to modify the suspension. Experienced Niva owners, even without changing the basic characteristics of the car, often replace standard suspension parts with more reliable ones that are resistant to operational loads. The practice of replacing rubber bushings with polyurethane ones is quite common and should be taken into account by each Chevy Niva owner.
Polyurethane silent blocks, couplings, seals, limiters and similar suspension elements last several times longer than conventional rubber ones. They are also not sensitive to temperatures and petroleum products, and work well in rupture and compression.
Installing double shock absorbers, contrary to the assurances of skeptics, will not make the suspension inert. Double shock absorbers will increase the car’s ability to withstand dynamic vehicle loads and make it possible to drive the car off-road at high speed.
On numerous forums that are dedicated to tuning the Chevy Niva, the issue of choosing the type of shock absorbers that is optimal for installation on an SUV with a short wheelbase is very often discussed. Fans of radical changes stick to gas-filled shock absorbers.
Niva operating experience shows that shock absorbers pay off only if they participate in cross-country racing. During normal operation, high-quality oil shock absorbers or conventional gas-oil shock absorbers from reputable manufacturers have proven themselves to be the best.
Technical tuning: how to increase car power?
The Chevrolet Niva is produced on the basis of a 1.7-liter naturally aspirated engine with a power potential of 80 horsepower. The power of this engine is not enough for comfortable off-road driving in all-wheel drive, but the design of the power unit itself has problems with any type of tuning.
The optimal solution in this case is to swap the engine with any suitable engine for crossovers made in China or Japan. The average cost of a contract engine for a Niva from a foreign car will cost no more than 50,000 rubles; installation and adjustment of transfer cases and gearboxes will take no more than 30,000, together with the necessary components.
This is interesting! An additional bonus when swapping the engine and strengthening the gearbox is the possibility of turbocharging the car, which will increase the power of the contract engine by another 25-30%.
Changing wheels
Off-road tuning begins with changing the wheels. It is traditionally believed that the larger the wheels on a car, the better its cross-country ability. This is true, but sometimes replacing wheels with larger ones means enlarging the arches.
In order not to “damage” the arches, you need to know the appropriate sizes of off-road wheels that can be used painlessly for a car, for example, 215/75/R15 brands Forward, Safari, Goodrich and 205/80/R16: Kumho, Gordiant.
By installing wheels of this size, you will immediately notice the difference between the regular version of the car and the off-road version.
If you think that these changes will not be enough for you and you want even larger wheels, then cutting the arches is guaranteed for you. But you should know that in some cases you can simply bend the arches outward. This method looks better aesthetically.
Important! In any case, having enlarged the wheels, you will need to lift the car, or, more simply put, increase the ground clearance to the required off-road size.
What's the bottom line: why modernize the Chevrolet Niva?
Installing a more powerful engine will have a positive effect on the dynamics and cross-country ability of the car. An engine swap with a power of about 150 horsepower, driven to all-wheel drive, as well as the installation of large tires with powerful lugs, allows the Niva to be maximally prepared for off-road use. In its price segment, the pumped-up Chevrolet Niva has no competitors!
The Chevrolet Niva is a fairly popular crossover in Russia. One of its main disadvantages is called a too weak power unit. Therefore, today we will talk about the possibilities of tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine.
First you need to remove the engine of this car and disassemble it. The next step is to replace the piston rings and crankshaft. This solution allows you to increase the engine displacement to 1.8 liters.
After such tuning of the Niva Chevrolet engine, you will also have to install a new throttle body and injectors. Experts also advise installing larger diameter intake pipes and installing a flame arrester instead of a catalyst. Finally, it is necessary to replace the electronic control unit. With the help of such actions, you can achieve an increase in the performance of the Chevrolet Niva engine.
How to improve the airflow into the feet of the heater on a Lada Niva Travel (Chevrolet)
The design of the Niva Travel (formerly Chevy Niva) heater is not ideal. For example, SUV owners write that during the cold season, warm air does not blow well into the feet of the driver and passenger. The problem can be solved by modifying the design, which will take you about 2 hours.
The instructions were shared by someone who picked up the idea from the Niva forum. He compared several improvements proposed by forum members and decided to implement one of them, which in his opinion was not complicated and effective.
Required
: plastic plumbing pipes with a diameter of 40mm, a drill with a 50mm crown, a stationery knife, sealant/silicone, mastic/plasticine.
Procedure:
1. Cover the holes in the heater housing through which air flow is lost (mastic/plasticine). You can identify problem areas with your hand, with the airflow in your legs turned on at maximum.
2. Make a hole in the heater housing using a 50mm hole saw.
3. Cut 30 degree corners and install into the holes made.
4. Assemble the air flow line as shown in the photo.
By the way, instead of plumbing pipes, you can use corrugation of the same diameter. Lay it over the feet of the driver and passenger. Make holes in places where the air flow should enter the legs, and close the end of the corrugation with a plug.
Now the flow of hot air is not lost in the depths of the heater housing, but is directly delivered to the feet of the driver and passenger.
Tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine by adjusting its geometry
One of the ways to modify the Chevrolet Niva engine is to change the geometry of the power unit, as well as change the cylinder head. Performing such procedures will result in the cylinders being filled with a large amount of combustible mixture.
First you will have to increase the size of the valve, the pusher well, as well as the exhaust and inlet channels. After this, you need to cut out the old valve seats and increase the diameter of the well intended for the pusher. For the camshaft, we select solid pushers whose diameter exceeds 1 mm.
After this, you need to make other valve seats. Before tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine in this way, you need to find out the dimensions of the corresponding holes. Then we place the seats in nitrogen, and send the cylinder head to the oven. Then the cylinder head seats are installed.
At the end, the cylinder head is assembled, and be sure to make sure the valves are tight. Using this method, you can increase the power of a Chevrolet Niva engine by about 10 percent, which is already good.
Optics
The optics are worth special attention, and you can transform your headlights thanks to the special glow. Get GT Block Small reflectors and Hiper Flux yellow LED chips. Additionally, you will need black spray paint.
The procedure will be as follows:
- Remove the headlight and use paint to treat the substrate.
- Create 16 holes for the reflectors at the bottom of the housing. Make sure that the distance between them is strictly the same. These will be daytime running lights, so the LEDs should be white. After connecting the elements into a circuit, all that remains is to connect them to the standard power supply.
- Yellow LEDs are just useful for a turn signal. Use thin plastic as a base, in which you need to make 4-6 vertical and 10 horizontal holes. They must be symmetrical. Use wires to connect them and also connect the standard wiring.
- All that remains is to assemble the headlight and return it to its rightful place.
You can use other options for localizing holes - it all depends on your imagination. LED strip can replace single diodes, so you will save time and effort.
Such tuning of a Chevrolet Niva with your own hands will allow you to save on energy consumption, extend the service life of lighting elements and increase brightness.
Application of a turbine on a Chevrolet Niva engine
This type of modernization of the Chevrolet Niva engine helps to achieve a 30 percent increase in its power. The cost of a turbine for a Chevrolet Niva reaches approximately 67 thousand rubles. This amount already includes the cost of performing all work.
The use of turbocharging provides an increase in engine torque at low speeds, as well as at medium speeds. Installing a turbine increases torque, power and has a positive effect on engine efficiency.
Some experts advise tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine using a GARRETT GT17 turbine. Installing such a turbocharger leads to a significant improvement in the torque flow parameters of the power unit.
The Chevrolet Niva turbocharged engine demonstrated the following results:
- torque increased to 170 Nm (standard – 120 Nm);
- power increased to 105 “horses” (in the base – 80 forces).
Thus, the modified Chevrolet Niva engine provides much better dynamic performance of the car. Thanks to such improvements, car owners are able to use larger rims and feel more confident off the asphalt surface.
As you can see, there are different methods for tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine. Their choice depends on the allocated budget, as well as the required results.
We also recommend that you pay attention to the article about the features of the Chevrolet Niva with a diesel engine.
Do-it-yourself tuning Niva Chevrolet
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There are many points of view about our Russian automobile industry, and most often negative. But despite everything, our compatriots, despite any “jambs” of the domestic automaker, continue to drive VAZs, UAZs and all other masterpieces of their native automotive industry. When buying a domestic car, we often hear: “It would be better to take an old foreign car”! Or: “What the hell to pay so much money for a “basin with eyes”! It’s not worth it!”
Rear suspension lift
To do this, you cannot do without a lift or inspection hole. You will also need a welding machine; it is better to use a semi-automatic machine. The algorithm of actions is as follows.
- Place washers under the springs.
- Dismantle the rear shock absorbers and install new ones from the kit instead, using welding to attach the brackets.
- The lower bowls are cut off and attached to the desired location.
- Pins are welded under the shock absorber struts.
- Next, it remains to lengthen the rocker arm of the brake circuit.
After lifting the suspension, in addition to the wheel alignment, it is necessary to install the main pairs with different gear ratios. Alloy wheels will also no longer be relevant. For a complete set, all that remains is to install a self-locking differential on the rear axle. To achieve success in this matter, you should carefully follow all points of the detailed instructions.
The consequences of such modernization can be any; responsibility rests only with the car owner.
Snorkel for Niva Chevrolet
If the car in everyday use moves along a dusty dirt road or periodically overcomes water obstacles, then a snorkel will be useful. In addition to protecting the power unit from water ingress and subsequent water hammer, this element performs a number of other useful functions:
- supply of clean and cool air;
- reducing the concentration of exhaust gases in the air from cars ahead;
- air intake from the upper part, a kind of supercharging is formed.
Many people buy a snorkel in a store, but you can make it yourself - whatever suits you best. If you choose a device manufactured by a reputable company, you will receive a high-quality product that will last for many years. Buying a snorkel is half the battle; you also need to install it correctly. The factory item kit always contains detailed instructions.
On the Chevrolet Niva, the snorkel is often installed on the left side. In addition to conventional tools, you may need a drill with drills, a jigsaw, and silicone sealant. The snorkel installation process is as follows.
- Raise the left side of the car with a jack.
- Remove the wheel, wheel arch liner and air filter box.
- Prepare the wing for the hole cutout (cover the cutout area with tape).
- There will be a template included with the snorkel; you need to attach it to the wing and mark the outline with a marker.
- Drill a hole of the required diameter and insert the air filter pipe into it.
- Make outlets in the windshield pillar for attaching the vertical air duct. All holes must be filled with sealant to prevent corrosion.
Next, all that remains is to mount the snorkel on the Chevrolet Niva according to the instructions. There is nothing complicated in this procedure. And it is not at all necessary to contact specialists with this question. You can do everything yourself and save a couple of thousand rubles.
Installing arch extensions
Elements vary in size and shape, as well as in overhang. Extenders can be made of plastic, metal or rubber. Owners of Chevy SUVs prefer rubber ones, which, in addition to their attractive appearance, have a low price, ease of installation, strength and durability.
When operation involves off-road driving, then without arch extensions (especially if wide mud tires are installed), dirt and stones flying from the wheels can damage the paintwork of the body. Installation of expanders is simple and takes minimal time.
Algorithm of actions.
- For better fastening, several additional holes should be drilled in the finished arch extensions.
- To prevent the occurrence of corrosion, self-tapping screws and holes for them are coated with any anti-corrosion compound. The wings are treated with the same product from the outside and inside.
- Metal plates are installed in rubber arch extensions.
- The products are screwed to the wings with self-tapping screws.
Another advantage of rubber gaskets is that they can be painted in any shade, but usually car owners do not do this. The black arches highlight the Chevy's silhouette and create an individual look.
Chevy Niva tuning. Start
The most unusual thing in this situation is this: a person who has purchased a foreign car simply drives it every day... at first he enjoys it and then gets used to his “horse” and doesn’t care anymore. But the lion's share of car enthusiasts from our country buy domestically produced cars for the sake of, so to speak, sporting interest. These are maniacs in the good sense of the word, they love to get under the hood or under the bottom and smoke something there in their own way... And the craving for thrills among many car enthusiasts is so great that it simply leaves no options in choosing another car. And the low price, of course, matters. The expanses of our country do not shine with roads, and what scope opens up for creativity and alterations in domestic models, it’s just a joy and that’s all.
Well, we're done with the lyrics, let's move on to specifics.
Here are the most common modifications carried out by owners in the process of tuning a Chevy Niva:
- installation of an alarm system with auto start;
- electric windows with interface;
- music;
- additional noise and vibration insulation of the car.
Often, home-grown car creators customize their Nivas by installing body kits on them.
Practice shows that boring the cylinders and replacing them with pistons of larger diameter makes it possible to increase the engine displacement from 1700 cm3 to 1900 cm3. Power increases significantly.
Pistons are either cast or forged. When choosing pistons, you need to take the balancing of parts especially seriously. Replacing pistons for a Chevy Niva is, first and foremost, optimizing combustion chamber ventilation. It is necessary to bore the seats and install valves of larger diameter. The use of T-shaped valves provides a noticeable effect without experimental boring.
Detailed processing of the valve locking surface ensures high-quality sealing of the cylinder. Reducing the mass of the plate during Chevrolet Niva tuning helps stabilize the valve temperature. The T-shaped valve does not burn out, and due to its unique shape it works with greater efficiency.
Transmission modification
Most often, transmission tuning involves some measures to reduce vibrations that occur in the front gearbox and are transmitted to the entire car body. Attempts to install self-locking gearboxes are also no less common. But if measures to reduce vibration are clearly necessary for the car and passengers, then all kinds of differentials with a high coefficient of friction and ball “self-blocks” will significantly complicate the use of the car.
Difficulties when using this kind of units, as a rule, rest on the not very high resistance of structural materials. Barely surmountable design flaws of modern devices prevent their effective use. Many Chevrolet Niv owners note the negative results of such DIY modifications. In some cases, repairs are required altogether.
It’s not for nothing that reviews from fans of this kind of modifications recommend putting the factory rear axle gearbox in the trunk and always carrying it with you, i.e. one day it will definitely be needed. But Chevy Niva tuning is very often narrowly focused and is carried out with the goal of improving the road properties of the car. The installation of wheel gears is quite reasonable here.
It should be noted that wheel gearboxes make it possible to equip a car with special softer tires, which will make it possible to move through swampy areas or deep snow. A slightly raised body, large-diameter wheels, high cross-country ability and an aggressive appearance are the result of installing the following final drives:
Chevrolet Niva interior tuning
The car interior is practically an apartment. Just like at home, the driver should feel comfortable and pleasant inside his own car.
The atmosphere inside the salon should provide aesthetic pleasure and please the eye. The designers of the Niva Chevrolet did not bother much about the design, but this also has an advantage for car enthusiasts. They can confidently realize any of their fantasies.
For example, you can add chrome trim to the gear knob and door handles. They will add style. You can also make your own covers from the most unexpected fabrics with the most original images. Chevy Niva is a more masculine car than a feminine one, so it is well suited for military, hunting, and biker attributes.
Installation of branch cutters (trophy cutters)
If you are going to modify your car, then do it to the end. Modernizing the Chevy Niva also involves tuning the review. To do this, experienced off-road enthusiasts use a special device called a “branch cutter” or, in professional slang, a “trofiler.” These devices prevent sudden impacts on the windshield. They are very effective when moving through the forest, since stopping and cutting branches every time is very inconvenient.
A branch cutter is a special steel cable that is pulled from the corner of the hood to the roof. You can make them yourself, or you can buy ready-made ones.
Music in the interior of the Niva Chevrolet
Music on the road is a certain form of life drive. The installation of an acoustic system must be approached responsibly and creatively. We need to install the most modern radio with high-quality sound in the Chevy Niva. Experts recommend paying attention to systems with built-in navigation. A cool fashionable subwoofer and fashionable speakers will decorate the interior and make the sound of the radio more perfect and pleasant.
Tuning a Chevrolet Niva basically involves, first of all, engine tuning.
Tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine has several options. First you need to dismantle and completely disassemble the engine and replace the crankshaft and piston rings. After which the engine volume will increase to 1.8 liters. The factory Niva engine, which has been chipped, greatly improves and improves its capabilities. The modified engine increases the volume of the combustion chamber and reduces the weight of the crankshaft and connecting rods.
After this alteration of the cylinder head, you need to change the injectors and throttle assembly, and then increase the diameter of the exhaust pipes and replace the catalyst with a flame arrester. At the end of the upgrade, you can replace the control unit. Such manipulations help increase the power of the Chevy Niva engine. Serious reworking of the Chevrolet Niva engine improves the quality of the cylinder head and improves its geometry. A chic option for upgrading the Niva Chevrolet engine is the cylinder heads and modernization of the engine geometry. After such transformations, the filling of the cylinders with the combustible mixture will improve.
By the way, the Chevy Niva has been seriously modified at an industrial level. And in this improvement of the car, folk tuning played a significant role. Over several years of modifications, the car's suspension was modernized, this reduced noise when driving, the safety and reliability of this unit was increased, the glass cleaning system was changed, and the seat belts were changed. A new jack was added to the car kit. I would like to believe that until the release of the new version of the Chevrolet Niva, specialists will not stop there and will not stop adding further improvements to the car. Well, home-grown tuning specialists will continue their creative activities in this direction.
The Chevrolet Niva is quite popular, which is explained by its reliability, excellent cross-country ability and ease of maintenance. However, not every car owner is satisfied with the appearance and technical parameters of this vehicle as standard. Therefore, many car enthusiasts prefer to tune the Chevrolet Niva.
Interior reupholstery and modernization
When you obtain maximum results associated with the external transformation of the machine, you can proceed to its modernization. The interior reupholstery is also done by hand.
Consider the recommendations of experts:
- New steering wheel and its reupholstery with high-quality leather. This element will significantly improve the appearance of the interior.
- If desired, you can install an audio system, DVR, navigator and other modern electronics. The best option is a comprehensive multi-system that will allow you to take advantage of the above functions.
- Work on sound insulation - increase comfort when moving in a vehicle.
- No less important elements are the dashboard and dashboard. If desired, you can change them.
- You can please yourself with minor tuning. This means using pedal covers, lighting fixtures and decals.
- Motorists often complain about seats that lose their attractive appearance over time. Online stores offer a huge range of cases. You can choose by color, quality of material and price.
- In addition, you can paint the inserts on the regulators and gearshift knobs. You can use stickers as decoration.
Tuning Chevrolet Niva
Any shortcomings of the Chevrolet Niva can be easily compensated for by tuning capabilities. Absolutely all car models can be modified according to the owner's ideas.
External tuning of a Niva usually involves installing a body kit that improves the car’s aerodynamics, aesthetic appearance and comfort. As a rule, the body kit includes running boards, sills, ladders, roof rails, kangurins, spoilers, and so on. You can install entire sets of tuning body kits, for example, “Street Rally”, “Niagara” and others.
Technical tuning
Technical tuning of the Chevrolet Niva improves the car's driving performance and transmission performance. It is carried out with the aim of increasing the Niva’s cross-country ability in off-road conditions, as well as in difficult natural conditions. Currently, there are a number of improvements, there are solutions that can satisfy any need.
Tuning a Chevrolet Niva in urban conditions means a smooth ride, absence of vibrations, light steering, on-board computer, comfortable seats, and so on.
Chevrolet Niva engine tuning
Many car enthusiasts tend to install body kits first, but they should start with internal tuning, namely the engine compartment. By replacing the factory camshafts and pistons, modifying the cylinder head in terms of improving the valve system and gas distribution mechanism, installing high-flow output systems and lightweight balanced flywheels, you can achieve a significant increase in the torque and power of the Nivov engine.
It wouldn’t hurt to install a lightweight flywheel to make starting and spinning the engine much easier. You can replace the standard shock absorbers.
To improve the performance of the Chevrolet Niva engine, it is best to carry out chip tuning. Serial Niva engines, which have been chipped, demonstrate truly superior performance to all generally accepted standards. The engine, in the design of which quite serious changes were made, as a result of which the volume of its combustion chamber increased, the mass of the crankshaft and connecting rods decreased, a tuning camshaft and a split gear timing drive appeared, needs even more improvements to the program that controls it.
Installing kengurin on Chevrolet Niva
Many tuned Chevrolet Nivas are equipped with kangurin, despite the fact that automakers do not recommend making such changes to the design of this car.
Kengurin will not only make the car more solid, but will also help in case of an emergency, however, in a collision with a pedestrian, it poses an increased danger to the latter. The kengurin is installed either on four studs welded to the bottom of the car on the bumper amplifier, or in two holes for attaching the standard protection to the amplifier. Extended bolts are usually sold complete with kangurin.
Rear bumper protection
On a Chevrolet Niva, it is advisable to install rear bumper protection corners, which are secured with two bolts to the reinforcement in the rear bumper.
Chevrolet Niva interior tuning
You can’t ignore the interior of the Chevrolet Niva, because it will constantly surround the driver. There is no limit to the car enthusiast's imagination - it could be a leather interior with heated seats, a car computer, original neon lighting, a stereo system with a subwoofer and other accessories that are fashionable today, which are available in any tuning parts store. As a result of all the upgrades, you will receive a completely exclusive interior that will fully correspond to your individual preferences.
The effect of the work done is especially noticeable if you compare the photo of the standard interior and the photo of the tuning of the Chevrolet Niva.
Tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine can be done in several ways. First, let's consider the option of completely changing the engine, as well as the intake and exhaust.
The first step is to remove and disassemble the Chevrolet Niva engine, then change the crankshaft and piston rings. After which the engine volume will increase to 1.8 liters.
After such modification of the cylinder head, it is necessary to change the injectors and throttle assembly. Next, you need to increase the diameter of the exhaust pipes and replace the catalyst with a flame arrester. After all of the above, you can replace the control unit. All these actions help increase the power of the Chevrolet Niva engine.
Tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine by improving the cylinder head and engine geometry An excellent option for tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine is changing the cylinder head (cylinder head) and correcting the engine geometry. After such transformations, the filling of the cylinders with the combustible mixture will improve.
First, you need to increase the diameter of the pusher well, valve, as well as the inlet and outlet channels. Then the old valve seats are boldly cut out, and the diameters of the well for the pusher are increased. The camshaft requires solid pushers with a diameter greater than 1 mm.
Then we need to make new valve seats. But first you need to measure the holes for the saddles. Then these seats are placed in nitrogen, the cylinder heads are placed in an oven, and the cylinder head seats are installed in place.
Next, you need to assemble the cylinder head and check that the valves are tight. This simple procedure will increase the power of the Chevrolet Niva engine by 10%.
External tuning – functionality and aesthetics
Any vehicle that is used in or near off-road conditions requires the installation of several functional elements and external accessories. Perhaps the most important thing is to install a bumper with a winch - if you get stuck, the winch will be very useful. The functionality of this element is undeniable.
Durable steel, three millimeters thick, which is integral with the engine protection, will ensure the safety of the body in extreme road conditions. Additional headlights recessed into the bumper are usually equipped with fog filters. Inside such a bumper, there will also be a perfect place for a winch and towing loops.
When choosing a winch model, you should prefer devices with polymer ropes. Steel cables are extremely inconvenient - they get pinched among the turns, although they are stronger.
Some Chevy Niva owners strive to give the car an aggressive look by decorating it with metal arches. But it is worth remembering that such arches, attached to the front, back or side, always do more harm than good. As a result, clearance is significantly reduced. But nevertheless, many car enthusiasts sacrifice functionality for the sake of aesthetics.
But one cannot fail to recognize a roof rack mounted on the roof as a very useful acquisition. Its carrying capacity is quite small, but if necessary, it can easily accommodate several cans of fuel.
Tuning the interior of the Chevy Niva does not have priority, because... For a domestically produced SUV, the interior is quite decent and even respectable. The only thing that can be done is to replace the standard seats with more comfortable and safe ones. But again, you shouldn’t experiment with installing exotic seats if the main focus of tuning is on subsequent off-road driving.
If the goal is to create a respectable car that can perform well in off-road conditions, then the interior can be completely redone and reupholstered, as well as tuning the Chevy Niva dashboard. But there is unlikely to be a desire to modify the external data of this car in the released restyled version.
We touched upon only a few individual aspects of tuning a Chevy Niva. The widest opportunities for independent tuning will be given to you by the availability of parts, the availability of design projects and, of course, the willingness to spend more than one day in the garage.
Kengurin
Despite the fact that factory recommendations indicate the impossibility of certain changes in the design of the Chevrolet Niva SUV, many modernized cars of this brand are equipped with kangurins. This additional element gives the vehicle a more imposing appearance and provides protection in the event of an accident, although people may be more seriously injured in a collision with pedestrians. Kengurin is installed in different ways, depending on its type:
- installation with two bolts (for fastening the license plate) and several studs, which are welded to the reinforcing arch of the bumper at the bottom of the SUV;
- fastening to the amplifier, on which there are holes for fixing standard protection.
Off-road qualities of the Niva car
For the pleasure of Chevrolet Niva owners, we note that this car differs from all those produced in Russia in its off-road qualities. It may be inferior to its foreign counterparts in many respects, but at the same time it is designed specifically for Russian roads, and for their absence.
And its interior is comfortable enough not only to move around, but also to work, travel, compete, hunt, fish, and just relax - in a word, the car is universal.
But for the harsh realities of off-road tuning it cannot be avoided. Let’s be clear right away – it’s not just expensive. It is very expensive. But it is not necessary to carry out all the work in a complex. This can be done if you have money and time.