Nowadays it is customary to scold the products of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. Say, comfort is not enough, and the engines are not the same ... Even a really successful model, proudly bearing the Russian name Niva, is forced to endure the nagging of disgruntled users.

However, all the disadvantages of the car are easily compensated for by the tuning capabilities. Any model - including a completely modern Chevrolet Niva - can be redesigned according to the owner's ideas.

Will this make the car better? It all depends on the diligence of the performers ... Let's take a closer look.

Engine tuning - the beginning of all beginnings

And although most amateur tuners rush to improve their Niva by installing body kits, the rational path begins with the engine compartment. Masters tuning Chevrolet Niva gained invaluable experience in converting standard eighty-horsepower engines.

By replacing the factory pistons and camshafts, modifying the cylinder head in terms of improving the gas distribution mechanism and valve system, installing lightweight balanced flywheels and high-flow exhaust systems, specialists achieve a very significant increase in the power and torque of the Niva engine.

However, you also need to know when to stop: the overseas craftsmen, modernizing the Niva, who knows how to have reached Australia, decided that the five-liter engine is the very thing for the Russian SUV.

According to eyewitnesses, the nivomonster roars more terrible than a lion's pride, but no one can ride it ...

Tuning parts for the Chevrolet Niva engine

Boring the cylinders and installing pistons with an increased diameter allows you to raise the working volume of the engine from 1700 cm 3 to 1900 cm 3 - which in any case has a positive effect on power.

Tuning pistons can be either cast or forged. The denser metal of the forgings promises longer component life, but in reality, the balance of each piston is much more important.

The displacement of the center of gravity relative to the axis of the piston pin entails the appearance of a subtle tilt of the part during its reciprocating movement in the cylinder. The result of the skew is the rapid wear of the walls, the appearance of ellipticity in the section, and a decrease in compression - up to a critical level.

That's why when choosing tuning pistons, you need to pay special attention to balancing parts.

The increased cylinder capacity means optimized ventilation of the combustion chamber. The obvious solution suggests itself: to bore out the seats, to install valves with an increased diameter. The use of T-shaped tuning valves gives quite a noticeable effect even without risky boring operations.

The high class of processing of the closing surface of the tuning valve ensures reliable sealing of the cylinder. The reduced poppet weight helps maintain the valve temperature. Contrary to common expectations, the T-shaped valve does not burn out, and works - due to the special geometry of the body - much more productively. The throughput of the channel closed by the tuning valve is higher than standard.

Modified camshafts for tuning the engine Chevrolet Niva, like camshafts for Chevrolet Cruze engines, are divided into three groups. For Niva, as for an SUV, it is especially important to "pick up" the pace of movement when shifting to lower gears.

Effective use of engine traction is determined by the shape of the camshaft cams. The popularity of "grassroots" shafts, which help to increase the cross-country ability of the car, is natural for the Chevrolet Niva. However, there are so many modifications of the Niva tuning shafts that they are numbered, and the bill has long passed over a hundred.

When choosing a tuning kit for the gas distribution mechanism, one should be guided by the presence of the appropriate firmware for the software complex that controls the operation of the Chevrolet Niva engine.

Chip tuning of the Chevrolet Niva engine

The serial Niva engine, subjected to chipping, demonstrates performance exceeding the generally accepted norm. The motor, in whose device major changes were made, and in which the volume of the combustion chamber increased, the mass of the crankshaft and connecting rods decreased, a tuning camshaft and a split timing gear appeared, all the more it needs to improve the program that controls it.

It has long been believed among amateur chip tuning masters that the electronic control unit of the Niva all-wheel drive does not tolerate interference, and its tendency to self-study makes any efforts to change the firmware useless.

This is true for Bosch electronic control units 7.9.0, M7.9.7 and M7.9.7 +. The January 7.2 ECU installed on tuned cars is free from such disadvantages. Its ROM (read only memory) calibrations can be changed during the flashing process.

The increase in power resulting from chip tuning Chevrolet Niva, can reach 15%.

Transmission tuning

Most often, as a tuning of the Chevrolet Niva transmission, measures are proposed to reduce the vibration that occurs in the front gearbox and is transmitted to the car body. Attempts to install self-locking gearboxes are no less common.

But if anti-vibration measures are unambiguously useful for both the car and the riders, all kinds of limited slip differentials and ball self-blocks can complicate the use of the Niva.

The problems of using such units usually rest on the insufficient durability of structural materials. Intractable design flaws in newfangled devices hinder their effective use. As a rule, the negative results of such alterations are noted by the majority of Niva owners.

So it is not in vain that the reviews of adherents of such alterations honestly recommend: put the standard rear axle gearbox in the trunk, and carry it with you always. One day it will come in handy ...

but tuning Chevrolet Niva often narrowly focused, and is carried out in order to improve the off-road properties of the machine. In this case, one cannot but admit that the installation of onboard (in other words, wheel) gearboxes is justified.

The raised ("lifted") body, large-diameter wheels, unprecedented cross-country ability and peremptory appearance - these are the results of the installation of wheel reduction gears.

It should be noted that it is the wheel reducers that make it possible to equip the car with special soft tires, which make it possible to move both in swampy terrain and in deep snow.

Of course, when altering the transmission, it is necessary and Chevrolet Niva suspension tuning

Experienced field owners, without even changing the running characteristics of the machine, try to replace the standard suspension parts with more reliable, productive, resistant to climatic and operational loads.

The common practice of replacing rubber bushings with parts made of polyurethane should be adopted by every Chevrolet Niva owner. Polyurethane silent blocks, stoppers, seals, couplings and other suspension elements serve three times longer than rubber ones. They are insensitive to temperature conditions, they are not afraid of oil products, they work perfectly in compression and fracture.

Mounting dual shock absorbers, contrary to skeptics, does not make the suspension critically inert. Dual shock absorbers increase the vehicle's ability to withstand dynamic loads and allow the vehicle to be driven even at high-speed off-road driving.

On the forums dedicated to tuning Chevrolet Niva, the question of choosing the type of shock absorbers that are optimal for installation on this short-base SUV is often discussed. Adherents of radical changes advocate the use of gas-filled shock-absorbing devices.

The operating experience of the Chevrolet Niva shows: gas shock absorbers are justified only if the car participates in cross-country races. During normal operation of the Niva, gas-oil or high-quality oil shock absorbers from reputable manufacturers have proven themselves in the best way.

Improvement of off-road qualities Chevrolet Niva

The high cross-country ability of the serial Niva is not a reason to use the car as an amphibian. Many owners of this SUV are sure: silicone seals and lubricants, abundant watering of high-voltage wires and electrical appliances with kerosene-containing liquid makes it possible to force water obstacles of great depth.

Meanwhile, a high-speed overcoming of even a shallow-looking puddle can lead to sad consequences. Water that gets through the air intake into the cylinders of a running engine is an incompressible medium. The moving piston is unable to overcome the compression resistance of the water. As a result, the rotating crankshaft bends the connecting rod - and this is still a relatively harmless result of driver's daring.

No less harm is caused by the ingress of water into the oil sump. This is why hydrotreating is so important for the Chevrolet Niva.

The established standards of hydraulic preparation include the installation of a snorkel (placed on the roof of the air intake) and the exclusion of the possibility of water entering the mechanisms through standard breathers.

A great variety of snorkel designs have been developed, but the main thing in each of them is a sufficient duct cross-section. The rule of self-creation of a snorkel is simple: the longer the duct, the greater its throughput should be. Otherwise, a considerable part of the engine power will be spent on creating a vacuum in the snorkel tube, and its installation will have a detrimental effect on the driving performance of the machine.

Rubber hoses put on the breathers, brought out into the engine compartment and protected by filters, will ensure the protection of important mechanisms from moisture.

A functional body kit is an important part of tuning a Chevrolet Niva

Who would think of decorating the Niva with decorative overlays? An off-road vehicle needs many extremely useful outdoor fixtures to be installed. Reinforced bumper with built-in winch - the first device needed in the event of a machine jam.

And although a power bumper for a monocoque car is not a panacea for hard collisions, its functionality is undeniable. The durable 3mm steel bumper, which is integral with the engine protection, ensures the safety of the body and units in difficult road conditions.

Additional headlights recessed into the bumper are usually equipped with fog filters. The towing eyes are fixed in the attachment points of the structure to the body. The emergency winch easily finds a place inside such a bumper.

When choosing a winch model, you should prefer devices equipped with polymer ropes. Steel cables are stronger, but winding with force on the reel, they can get pinched among the turns. Releasing the winch cable in the field is always a challenge.

Some Chevrolet Niva owners, trying to give the car the appearance of a fighter against the dominance of stray kangaroos, diligently decorate the car with arcs curved from pipes. Reinforced at the front and back, turned into side steps, the arcs of thick pipes do more harm than good. They reduce the vehicle's ground clearance, flatten the angles of the front and rear overhangs.

The appearance of the car, of course, benefits from such alterations, but the permeability falls. And the total weight of the attached metal is often several tens of kilograms. Why carry unnecessary cargo?

The roof rack, assembled from light materials, equipped with several headlights and fixed on the roof, cannot but be considered an extremely useful acquisition. Even if its carrying capacity is not particularly high, it will fit three cans of fuel, and this is at least several hundred kilometers of track, guaranteed with fuel.

Electro tuning SUV

The temptation to add headlights to the roof rails is sometimes daunting. Indeed, why not create a light platform on the roof of the car that can flood the entire area with radiance? The problem is the high energy consumption of halogen lamps. They are gradually being replaced by LED headlights. They are still expensive, but already very practical: they are durable, economical, unpretentious. And they are not so complicated that you cannot assemble them with your own hands with a minimum of knowledge in electrical engineering ...

The LED headlights do not overload the generator and give a high light output. The future is behind them!

The sore spot of any SUV used on rough terrain in wet weather is the windshield washers. It is often necessary to add water to the tank, which is not particularly pleasant at an air temperature of about 0˚С. In addition, cold water does not wash away mud masses from glass very well.

A rational solution is to install a heater. Hot (up to + 75˚С) water is consumed more economically, it works better. Most importantly, heating the water makes it possible to abandon the use of methanol solutions that are unsafe for humans, used as antifreeze liquids for washing glass.

The industry produces several models of engine preheating and seat heating devices. Their relevance in the Russian climate is understandable. Inexpensive and useful non-freezing outside rear-view mirrors with repeaters of turns and an electric drive of adjustment of an angle of reflection.

It is important to choose a model of tuning mirrors that are equipped with an aerodynamic protrusion along the lower edge of the plastic. This unobtrusive detail is an excellent remedy against dirt from the mirrors from the front wheel.

We have touched on only a few aspects tuning Chevrolet Niva... The popularity of the brand, the availability of parts for self-tuning provides the widest opportunities for creativity.

On-board computer GF-223 on the Chevrolet Niva

Compact and multifunctional on-board computer Gamma GF 223 for Chevrolet Niva cars. One of the clear advantages of this BC is the option of its installation, namely the GF 223 is mounted instead of one of the central air ducts of the interior heater, which allows it to ergonomically install itself in the interior of your car.

Controller Compatibility:
BOSCH M.1.5.4 / MP7.0 / M7.9.7 / ME17.9.7; JANUARY 5.1 / VS 5.1; JANUARY 7.2; M73; M74 As of SW 4.32 - also Bosch ME17.9.71

The BC is made in a black case with a display that has a resolution of 122x32 pixels and is equipped with a neutral blue backlight with white letters. The GF 223 is controlled by 4 vertically located buttons (2 on each side of the display), which greatly facilitates the operation of the BC by conveniently positioning the control elements.

Connecting the GF 223 is quite simple, or rather, you will need to connect the following wires: +, -, + for the backlight, the K-line wire to the diagnostic block to read data from the controller (ECU), the wire to the fuel sensor for correct readings. To facilitate the task of connecting the BC, the kit includes detailed instructions for connecting and operating, as well as all the necessary wires. The BC is installed even easier than it is connected - carefully remove half of the central air duct and insert the on-board computer in its place.

Description of functions:

Alarm device:

- Exceeding the speed threshold;
- Warning about included dimensions;
- Exceeding the engine speed threshold;
- Going beyond the specified supply voltage range;
- Excess coolant temperature;

Diagnostic parameters (ECM):
- Throttle position;
- Ignition timing;
- Air flow;
- Engine coolant temperature;
- Display of the ECU passport;
- Reset of errors accumulated by the controller;
- Reading of codes of malfunctions (errors);
- Position of the idle speed controller (for EPG);
- Voltage of the on-board network;
- Reading the service book;

Information:
- About the controller;
- About the manufacturer;
- About the product;

Routing parameters:
- Average fuel consumption;
- total fuel consumption per trip;
- the maximum speed of the car for the last kilometer;
- current vehicle speed;
- forecast of mileage on the remaining fuel;
- fuel level in the tank;
- average speed per trip;
- average fuel consumption per trip;
- current engine speed;
- Travel time;
- instant fuel consumption;
- vehicle mileage per trip;

Configuring Alarm Alerts:
- Setting the coolant temperature threshold;
- Setting the threshold for the permissible voltage of the on-board network of the battery;
- Setting the vehicle speed threshold;
- Setting the engine speed threshold;

Organizer:
- Air temperature;
- Clock;
- The calendar;
- Alarm clock;

Reporting periods:
- For the last month;
- For today;
- Per month;

Other:
- Ionizer *;

Calibration / setting:
- Calibration of fuel consumption;
- Calibration of the speed sensor;
- Setting the initial run;

Maintenance:
- Replacement of candles;
- Replacing the timing belt;
- replacement of the air filter;
- replacement of the fuel filter;
- Changing the engine oil and gearbox;

The heir to the legendary Niva, the Chevrolet Niva, does not claim to be a veteran, nevertheless, it has become a fairly popular model. They fell in love with her for a good design from the Bertone studio, for a comfortable interior, functionality and a relatively low cost. Naturally, as befits a decent SUV, the Chevrolet Niva is bought as an initial set of spare parts to make a real and comfortable all-terrain vehicle out of it, if necessary. Although the car showed itself pretty well on smooth asphalt.

Chevrolet Niva as it is

Severe jeepers, as a rule, choose either UAZ Hunter or the good old Lada 4x4, the former Niva, but those who want additional comfort and good cross-country ability, then only Niva Chevrolet will shine for them for little money. Tuning of this light SUV is often aimed at increasing cross-country ability, changing engine characteristics, as well as eliminating factory design flaws.

For example, the Chevrolet Niva until 2010 was produced only with crosspieces on the drive shafts. The design is reliable and time-tested, but quite noisy and vibrating. Moreover, it is also heavy. After 2010, from the factory, the SUV began to install constant velocity joints. The car has become quieter and more reliable. Apart from other little things, this is all that was changed at AvtoVAZ in the design of the SUV. The rest is the work of the owners.

Chevrolet Niva engine tuning

80 regular horses is frankly not enough for a car with off-road ambitions, and 127 torque forces are just laughter for an all-terrain vehicle of this class. Therefore, first of all, you should pay attention not to the appearance, but to the power and torque. Here you can go in several ways:

replacement of the cylinder-piston group and timing correction - forged pistons and a lightweight camshaft with different cam angles, installing larger diameter valves in the block head, all this will increase the filling of the cylinder with the working mixture and improve the ventilation of the combustion chamber;

completion of the exhaust system;

installation of a lightweight flywheel;

flashing the electronic engine control unit, chip tuning, can also add a few horses.

A separate expense item may be the installation of a Garrett turbocharger adapted for the VAZ engine. The price of the kit is about 45,000 rubles, and it includes the Garrett 1752-5005s turbocharger itself, a set of fasteners and seals, a frontal intercooler for turbine cooling, a set of high-performance fuel injectors, a reinforced oil line, gaskets and air ducts. This is, indeed, a good way to increase the power of the Niva engine up to 200 hp, depending on the degree of preparation of the motor.

Modification of the chassis and suspension

The Niva Chevrolet's cross-country ability is somewhat inferior to imported classmates, and the main reason for this is the geometry of the body and the unification of the chassis and suspension with the old Niva and with other VAZ models. We can't do anything with the body, but lifting the suspension will increase not only the ground clearance and cross-country ability, but also make the Niva more attractive in appearance. Suspension lift implies an increase in ground clearance of 90-110 mm.

There is no need to get excited here, since the drives have permissible operating angles. It is necessary to prepare for the fact that the mileage of CV joints in any case will not change for the better, since the factory working angle will be changed. The center of gravity of the vehicle will also shift, which can cause roll and roll over of the vehicle, as well as deteriorate handling in general. The maximum tire size that can be fitted to a Chevrolet Niva is 235/75 with a 15-inch rim.

Installation of additional off-road equipment

The first off-road assistant is a winch. Power winches for Niva are on sale and they can be of different types, ranging from a stationary device mounted in the front bumper cavity, to powerful removable winches installed on a special platform. It attaches to the front lugs or to the front bumper mount. Most often, electric winches are installed, but there are options with a manual mechanical drive.

When overcoming a ford, there is a risk of a water hammer from the engine. Water enters the manifold, the combustion chamber, as a result of which the pistons are destroyed, the connecting rods bend and even the cylinder block is often damaged. To prevent water hammer, use a remote air intake, snorkel. It is attached to the A-pillar, as shown in the photo, and it draws air at high altitude, which prevents water from entering the engine.

Interior tuning is usually reduced to simplifying the panels, which makes it possible to carry out better cleaning, but there are also options aimed at increasing comfort. But in such a car, cross-country ability and safety are important, so many people prefer the installation of power thresholds, bumpers, additional lighting, and raid trunk. Tune the Niva correctly and off-road hospitable to all!

Niva Chevrolet is a new modification of the VAZ 2121 off-road vehicle, which was produced in Soviet times. The new model received a streamlined body, modern technical options such as power steering, electric exterior mirrors, headlight range control and air conditioning. Despite this, the car remained spartan in terms of equipment. This preservation of the concept, laid down in the first modifications of the VAZ 2121, made it possible to attract the attention of consumers, due to the ease of maintenance and a relatively high degree of cross-country ability. In other words, the Niva Chevrolet is perfectly adapted to the domestic light off-road conditions that prevail in most areas.

The new design and some technical options of Niva Chevrolet did not make the car the pinnacle of technological thought, but at the same time left enormous opportunities for external tuning of the Chevrolet Niva, as well as improving its practical characteristics.

Most often, they carry out tuning of the cornfield for off-road. This is not a complex technological process, it is enough to install the following elements on the car:

• Power kit. Includes heavy duty front bumper made of bent steel tubes with winch platform. It will not be difficult to make this product, you just need to have tools and equipment for working with metal: pipe bender, grinder, welding machine
• Off-road tuning of the Chevrolet Niva necessarily provides for the replacement of standard disks and tires. The following sizes are great here:
  1.215 / 75 / R15.
  2.205 / 70 / R16.
  3.205 / 80 / R16.
  The first numbers are the size of the tire, its height and width, designation after the letter R - disc diameter. For the last two values, the front wheel arches may need to be modified. Everything here will depend on the width of the tire.
• Installing a snorkel - an exhaust pipe that goes to the roof. This is necessary if Niva Chevrolet will be operated in extreme off-road conditions.
• A separate item is the installation of a winch on a Chevrolet field. Do not assume that this equipment is necessary only for those who participate in competitions. This practical equipment will be an excellent helper during outdoor recreation, as well as in the country and fishing. It is enough to install an electric winch and the car will not care, it will be able to pull itself out of the pit, ditch, and also help others. The body of the equipment can be hidden under a homemade metal casing.

Tuning Chevrolet Niva for off-road can be supplemented with protective, military paint, matte or glossy. This requires certain knowledge. The process of repainting is quite laborious and requires an appropriate mark in the technical documentation, so painting is not an obligatory element of tuning the 2123 Chevrolet Niva.

Read also: Installation of the hatch on the UAZ

Chevrolet Niva engine tuning

There are a huge number of options for improving the Niva Chevrolet engine, which will significantly increase its technical characteristics:

• Replacing the crankshaft and piston rings gives an increase in volume of 0.1 liters
• Replacing injectors
• Replacing the control unit
• Correcting the geometry of the engine by increasing the diameter of the valves and the pusher well for the intake and exhaust ports. New pushers are required with a diameter of at least 1 mm
• Valve sealing increases power by 10%
• Replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester. This is a tuning of the exhaust system of a Chevrolet Niva, but it contributes to the improvement of engine performance

All these operations require direct intervention in the technical device of the car. The best is the chip tuning of the Chevrolet Niva engine - this is working with the brains of the engine - the injector. This is where software knowledge is needed. With its help, the technical parameters of the machine are changed. This method is the least expensive.

Video chip tuning Chevrolet Niva with your own hands.

Chip tuning Chevrolet Niva involves the use of a special connector for connecting to a car and laptop. The software is very important here. It is desirable that it be licensed. But this option is quite expensive. You can download good assemblies on the Internet, but you should first read reviews about them. Re-flashing, chipping the engine takes up to 1 hour on average. This increases the torque and power by an average of 10%, the stroke becomes smoother, and the motor runs quietly and smoothly. At the same time, fuel consumption remains the same or decreases on average to 1 liter per 100 km.

Helpful advice

Chip tuning is carried out only when the car is fully functional. Otherwise, serious technical problems may arise. For example, fuel consumption will become uncontrolled.

Chevrolet Niva suspension tuning

Niva Chevrolet was created for driving on rough terrain, so the car's suspension is capable of withstanding serious loads, but not all and not always. Therefore, to improve cross-country ability, it is necessary to strengthen the suspension.

The most popular and relatively simple is the do-it-yourself Chevrolet Niva lifting, that is, an increase in ground clearance. For this, special kits are sold, the installation of which will require the use of locksmith and pneumatic tools, as well as the presence of a lift. The actual tuning of the suspension consists of the following steps:

• Strengthening the suspension with shock absorbers, they are installed in parallel with the standard ones. You must first prepare fasteners for them
• Improvement in terms of reliability of standard mountings of support nodes
• Installation of shock absorbers or gas-oil shock absorbers
• Replacing standard springs with reinforced modifications
• Installation of fixed steering knuckles
• Replacing standard hubs with swivel
• Particular attention must be paid to jet thrust, they must be strengthened.

See also: Tuning VAZ 2107

Tuning the Chevrolet Niva transfer case is an important stage in the suspension modernization. But in the case of Niva Chevrolet, this is more likely to eliminate childhood illnesses, which increases the level of reliability of the technological unit. This requires:

• Replace standard bearings with double row
• Replacing bearings will entail the need to replace covers
• Be sure to change the oil seals
• Equip the transfer case with an additional support for the shaft

Helpful advice

It is imperative to carry out the correct centering of the transfer case. This reduces the vibration level and increases the technical resource of the unit.

Chevrolet Niva interior tuning

Do-it-yourself tuning of the Chevrolet Niva salon is traditionally its banner. Genuine leather on the seats or its quality substitute will be especially chic. Chrome or mahogany imitation inserts may appear on the doors.

A good, relatively simple, but expensive, would be to replace the seats with sports ones. The new steering wheel is an integral part. If you need to save money, it is best to use a technique called flocking - applying cotton dust to the casing, which creates a fleecy effect. The new salon can be given any color.

You can also replace the standard seat belts, install xenon or bi-xenon interior lighting, underbody. Additional sound insulation will not hurt. Instead of a standard stereo system, a bot computer will look great - this is also a functional solution.

Chevrolet Niva panel tuning

Here the expression will be relevant - the need for invention is cunning. Tuning the torpedo of a Chevrolet Niva will help you to make your own imagination and available materials:

• Construction foam
• Various homemade items
• Epoxy - epoxy resin
• Grinding tool

All of the above will give the standard torpedo a new stylish look.

The second option for improvement is fitting a torpedo from other car models. This may require reworking the standard mountings. But the same can be done on the new torpedo, which will be a rational decision. A good option would be to upholster the torpedo with some expensive material, such as leather.

The cars of the Volzhsky plant are not considered prestigious. Even the updated "Niva", to the creation of which the specialists of "Chevrolet" had a hand, often raises complaints about the level of comfort, engine power and other parameters.

Many motorists want to improve their car with their own hands, and often this desire is associated not only with improving its characteristics, but also with the desire to adjust the car to their ideas about a good car, to give it individuality.

Most owners are limited to external changes: installing aerodynamic and purely decorative body kits with their own hands, replacing wheel disks, etc. Real tuning starts with the engine. Chevrolet Niva tuning masters have extensive experience in finalizing standard Niva engines.

In their arsenal are the replacement of factory pistons and crankshafts, which allows to increase the displacement of the engine, alteration of the valve system, changing the valve timing, reducing the gas-dynamic resistance of the exhaust and intake systems, installing a lightweight flywheel and other measures. All this allows to significantly increase the engine power and improve the acceleration dynamics of the machine.

Tuning an engine is an improvement in its characteristics, and not a complete replacement, as did the Australian hot rod lovers, somehow “shoving” a five-liter monster under the hood of a Niva that had come to them.

Parts for tuning engine Chevrolet Niva

The increase in engine power and thrust capacity is carried out in two directions: an increase in the working volume and an increase in the efficiency of gas dynamics.

The first way is to bore the cylinders and replace the standard pistons with larger pistons. Thus, it is possible to raise the working volume from the standard 1700 to 1900 cc. In addition, it is possible to install a crankshaft with an increased shoulder and replace the connecting rods with shorter ones, which increases the piston stroke.

New pistons can be cast or forged. Forged parts are made of particularly strong parts with an increased resource, but the main thing when tuning is perfect balance and accuracy. The balance of the masses of the piston and the forces acting on it, the dynamic balance of the pistons, connecting rods and the crankshaft - all these are necessary conditions for reducing vibrations, minimizing stress on all parts and increasing their service life.

The increase in the working volume entails the need to improve the blowing of the cylinders. This is the only way to fully realize their new potential. To ensure greater gas exchange in the cylinder, valve seats are bored and valves of increased diameter are installed. The same effect can be achieved in a simpler way - by replacing standard valves with T-shaped ones, having a thinner profile and opening a passage of a larger section for the gas flow.

Turned valves are lighter and are able to operate without "hanging" at higher speeds. Moving the moment of the break of the timing kinematics to the high-speed zone allows you to shift the operating frequency range up to 8000 rpm and thereby obtain a noticeable increase in power. In accordance with the general logic of reducing the inertia of moving parts, to achieve maximum effect, the upper valve spring plates, the springs themselves, and pushers are replaced.

For efficient operation of the engine at high revs, other valve timing is needed, taking into account the high speed of the piston and the inertia of gas processes. More than a hundred tuning camshafts with modified cam geometry have been developed for the Niva engine. Among them, you can choose a shaft that provides the desired amplitude and required opening and closing moments of the valves.

To fine-tune the valve timing (VGR), a split gear with a movable ring is installed on the camshaft. When assembling a timing kit, you need to take into account the existing software systems for flashing the engine control unit.

Refinement of the Chevy Niva engine with your own hands in the video:

Chip tuning of the Chevrolet Niva engine

The standard parameters of the engine management program are designed for economical driving and the widest possible range of modes, which "smoothes" the potential of the motor. By changing the program, you can achieve a significant increase in power from it.

It is quite obvious that the control of the converted engine, which has an increased displacement and changed FGR, should differ from the standard one.

There is a prejudice among the masters of chip tuning that it is better not to interfere with the operation of the Niva engine computer. Thanks to its inherent self-learning ability, it independently optimizes the operation of the motor. This is indeed true for Bosch ECUs 7.9.0, M7.9.7 and M7.9.7 +.

Electronic control units intended for tuned engines can be reflashed and thus the control parameters can be adjusted in accordance with the new qualities of the motor. Chip-tuning "Chevy-Niva" can provide up to 15% increase in power. Having made significant efforts to refine the engine, this opportunity should hardly be neglected.

Chevrolet Niva transmission tuning

The most popular measure in tuning the Chevrolet-Niva transmission is the fight against vibrations originating from the front gearbox. They often try to install a self-locking gearbox. If vibration reduction is useful in any case, limited slip differentials, ball or hypoid limited slip differentials do not fit very well with the Niva and can lead to complications.

Considering the off-road nature of the Niva, many owners prefer to increase its cross-country ability by installing side (wheel) gearboxes. With these gearboxes, the car becomes much higher, the torque on the wheels increases, it becomes possible to install tires with an increased diameter or even low-pressure tires on the car, which allow you to overcome wetlands and deep snow.

Chevrolet Niva suspension tuning

The simplest but most useful suspension modification is the installation of polyurethane elastic elements: silent blocks, bushings, limiters, etc. The increased resistance of these parts to loads, low and high temperatures, oil products is very useful for a machine designed for bad roads.

Shock absorbers have a great influence on the driving performance of the car. For speed lovers, it is better to put shock absorbers with increased stiffness. This will improve the stability and handling of the machine. For those who often drive on bad roads or with a heavy load, it is better to prefer gas or gas-oil shock absorbers. And for cross-country rodeo enthusiasts, there is the option of installing dual shock absorbers. This refinement will help to cope with the car in conditions unthinkable for the average driver.

Off-road SUV tuning

Improving off-road qualities is perhaps the main direction of tuning the Niva. For all its advantages, the serial "Niva" is still an off-road road vehicle. The possibilities of lifting the machine have already been mentioned above. Now it is worth mentioning the possibility of overcoming the fords.

Hydraulic preparation of the machine includes the installation of a snorkel, protection of breathers and electrical wiring. When installing a snorkel, it is important to correctly calculate its cross section. The dynamic air resistance in it is the greater, the greater its length and the more its cross-section differs from the circle. If the air duct is too narrow, the filling of the cylinders may deteriorate, resulting in a decrease in engine power.

The breathers are protected by rubber hoses brought to the top of the engine compartment and equipped with filters.

An example of off-road tuning for a Chevrolet Niva in the video:

Tuning is endless, as the possibilities for improvement are endless. Every car owner has their own preferences, and tuning provides the means to personalize the car. Before you start implementing your ideas, we advise you to use virtual programs, with which you can try on various modifications for your car on your computer.

Under the article, we have collected several photos with the most interesting tuning options for the Chevrolet Niva, which, perhaps, will provide an idea for improving your car.