oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Nov 26, 2012 21:27:48 GMT 2
I will probably get burned by alot of people but gonna ask before I do it.. as most know I'm building and converting an Mazda mx5 VVTi 1800 into my sidekick not for performance as main issue but rather reliablity and the ability to tow a bass boat and trailer for hunting season... However since it will be hosting 160hp..(120 kw and 200nm) estimate the 0-100 time to be between 10 - 11 sec) ;D I wondered if I will be forever banned from all Lada gatherings and forums If I claim its a POCH niva, not by breed but rather by heart? I want to replace the 4x4 badge at the back of the lada with a POCH decall of the same size. If this is not well taken by the enthusiasts i will refrain from doing it. heres a few pics of build so far Some pics of the build so far.. Attachments:
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Nov 26, 2012 21:29:29 GMT 2
still busy with engine fitment.. Attachments:
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Nov 26, 2012 21:30:36 GMT 2
stripping everything for respray as wel..metalic beige with charcoal sidekick moulds and bumpers... Attachments:
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Nov 26, 2012 21:38:23 GMT 2
maxxis all terrains and new deep dish mags as promised... New roofling and seats on its way cob=vered in grey ripstop canvas material.....along with genuine lada power windows... and will be doing snorkel in coming week or two whilst being painted at the shop... Attachments:
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Post by Charles on Nov 26, 2012 22:35:36 GMT 2
;D Attachments:
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Post by marius on Nov 27, 2012 6:35:19 GMT 2
You just do what you gotta do I can see you are very enthusiastic about your project - enjoy and have fun with it. Good luck Marius
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Nov 27, 2012 8:07:50 GMT 2
Go for it Juan,
Judging from previous work you have done, the NIVA will make you proud
Spikes
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2012 18:04:43 GMT 2
looking good juan!
That Mazda engine looks like it fits quite well. are you not having clearance issues with the sump like riaan?
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hoodoo
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Post by hoodoo on Nov 27, 2012 20:23:27 GMT 2
We're with you, especially as very few of us have bog-standard Nivas! Regards, John
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Nov 28, 2012 19:31:06 GMT 2
With Juan's permission, I have created a new thread for his conversion.
Spikes
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Nov 28, 2012 20:40:16 GMT 2
Let one thing be known by anyone, there is not a single engine conversion that will go into the niva that will not require any mods, with exclusion and I stand corrected on the fact of the old fiat 24 and 128 engines mainly due to the fact that the sump on the niva's engines is reversely mounted,in other words its a camel with a hump on the arse!
Regarding my Mazda conversion, Ive decided to ditch the 4x4 for the following reasons! 1)4x4 in our country is waste of money due to the fact that were screwed by not being allowed to drive on the beach or even venture of the road on scenic route without some kind of consequence. 2)The nivas 4x4 design is flawed in my opinion due the fact that the prop shaft or rather dough-nut distance between gearbox and transfer is to short and cannot be balanced properly therefore causing the vibrations everyone experiences with their nivas, and for me that will be winding engine rpm to 7500rpm...Ive for seen vibrations that could have been mistaken with seismic activity... 3)the fact that the front diff is actually in permanent 4x4 is ALLOT of unnecessary wear and tear on the transfer and diff 4)the fact that the 4x4 is permanently engaged this increases fuel consumption dramatically if used as a daily or even used for long distance trips. 5)I am fortunate enough to have an original 1964 Mercedes Benz unimog with 56oookm on Odo, so if any 4x4ing should be done Ill take the OLD MAN!
I will be driving my niva daily and the reason for buying it in the first place was that I could have a vehicle capable of towing a small bass boat, quad bike, or venter trailer, with enough power and still be able to drive on a dirt road!
In my case I went a different route with the engine mounting than others would have done, I left the entire steering and sub-assembly untouched and actually moved the engine and gearbox 50 mm higher into the body, requiring me to cut the gearbox body tunnel and fabricate a new one out of sheet metal and constructing my own center console...
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Post by ronnie on Nov 28, 2012 21:30:01 GMT 2
Hi Oldschool,
I have to respond to some of your statements. 1) There are many places in Southern Africa where you can use a 4x4 the way it was designed. In fact there are many places where it is a necessity. 2) A properly set up Niva will have very little vibration and if any is present it will be at a specific speed. How would 7500 rpm engine revs affect the doughnut ?. 4)There will be no more wear on the front diff than there is on the back one and it is very unusual to have a problem with a transfer case. 5) There is obviously a penalty to pay in economy with permanent 4 x 4 but it certainly does not increase fuel consumption dramatically. What it does do is increase road holding dramatically. 6)Perhaps you would have been better with a double cab ?. Mind you the last thing I would want you to do is to give up on your Niva which fulfills perfectly the purpose it was built for.
Ronnie
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Nov 30, 2012 20:26:49 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie
1)Do not disagree with you on the amount of places in RSA to use 4x4, maybe I should eloborate on this a bit more...the places where I am use to going which usually required 4x4 ...a\re now 4x4 banned...St.Lucia, Sodwana, Cape Vidal,Shelly Beach, Entire Mozambiquan coast...so in that regardU meant $x4 Is ussualy banned or unuseful anymore. 2)Again do not not disagreeon a properly setup NIva regarding vibrations, however common sense tells me and through applying experience in the past and undisputed physics one can make sense of it...IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for someone specialising in propshafts to balance ANY propshaft shorter that 300mm...with that said, a doughnut is made of rubber not steel, so it goes without saying its impossible to balance in any way, needles to say its a very long way from 300mm as well...regarding the vibration...ANY form of Vibration on the transfer and gearbox is NOT good and can not be justified for the simple reason bearings are not made to absorb vibration....REGARDING the common sense issue, if youre cars wheels are unballanced...the faste it goes and drives the more and severe the vibration gets depending on where the balancing issue is it differs in severity asd speed....for that same reason....i cannot see a rubber doughnut ring turning 7500 engine rpm converted through the gearbox which is use to and set or made for nothing more than 5500 rpm.....which in my world does not make logical sense. 3)wear and tear on the front diff...I never said that the front diff will wear more than the back, my complaint qwas made simply for the reason, why invent or make a diff active which is not engine driven or powered..that is drag WHICH CAN DIRECTLY BE TRACD TO A WASTE OF ENGINE POWER AND FUEL to drag along a diff which could have been a free spinning free wheel hub bearing, but instead designed as diff, turning everything from the sideshaft to the gears in the transfer box for no reason whatsoever..agsain I could be wrong but seems flawed in design and practicality. 4) agreed on the fuel consumption although dramatically is arguable...from what I understand and I stand to be corrected...I gathered the following info from ARI of his latest trip in the cape and he reported back to us on fuel consumtion and again stand to be corected, he reported not getting more than 7km on a liter..now that in my experience is heavy as shit on fuel but could be for a number of reasons not only to the permanent 4x4..however i base my argument on this..I have a friend whom has a 4y in his niva and at a speed of 110kph he averages 9.5 km on a liter with the 4x4 removed as well....dramatically is for every individual to decide.. 5)Perhaps a double cab was better, however my current project is costng me as it stands R6500 out of pocket with new mags maxxis all terrains, interior refurbished incl seats, dash, rooflining ant the entire niva included...estimate the total project cost to me out of pocket to be R30 000 max...however I must ad that Imust have some kind of jewish blood in me for achieving that..through god planning and selling all unnneeded parts of the niva....I dont like the idea of a double cag..feels like combie or bus and not the SUV feeling to it...and cant think of a double cab which will host 12okw, 200nm newly painted, refurbished along with new mags and tyres for the amount of R30 000...
BUT AGIN I STAND TO BE CORECTED
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Post by ronnie on Nov 30, 2012 21:33:26 GMT 2
Hi Oldschool At least your original post has generated a response ;D. I agree it is very sad that 4x4s are banned from many areas due to what is in my opinion vindictive people who have managed to hide behind conservation to suit themselves. I also am firmly behind conservation but it is wrong to deprive people from enjoying themselves by completely blocking access to all the beaches etc. The coast line is surely big enough for all to have an area to use. I am no expert on balancing, but with the diff ratios in the Niva I doubt if you will cruise at more than 140kph so you will never have the doughnut turning faster than it was designed for. As far as fuel consumption is concerned a lot depends how you drive, I know I used to drive as close to 120 as I could and my consumption was always in the region of 10 to 11 l/100kms. I also did not want a double cab and like you I prefer the style of the Niva. It is a shape that does not age. It would be nice If some of the other members would add their thoughts on the matter Ronnie
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2012 6:35:41 GMT 2
Hı Ronnıe,
I thınk that when ıt comes to keepıng the nıva 4wd vs convertıng to 2wd ıts goıng ro be a questıon of personal preference. I myself bought a Nıva because ı wanted a reasonably prıced 4x4, and would never dream of changıng that, because then ıt has lost ıts usefulness to me.
If on the other hand you only bought the nıva because ıt has hıgh ground clearance or because you lıke the shape, you obvıously wont feel the same.
As much as ı wouldnt convert my car, ı thınk that ıf ıt makes the nıva a more practıcal vehıcle for the owner, they should go for ıt. Its preferable to have a whole bunch of 2wd nıva's beıng used and cared for, then havıng all the 4wd ones parked off under a tree ın someones yard rustıng away.
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bill
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Post by bill on Dec 1, 2012 7:52:03 GMT 2
Hi Old School I think ,in my humble opinion, what you are doing is fine I also have a Lada with an engine change and have come under considerable critisism for "butchering"my vehicle But I feel that I have built a better vehicle FOR MY PERSONEL NEEDS not anyone elses My LADA is still 4x4 which took a huge amount of modification and effort but apart from the time was relatively straight forward Your LADA looks great in the photos and I wish you all the best Cheers to all Bill &Stompy
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Post by ronnie on Dec 1, 2012 10:40:41 GMT 2
Hi Conrad
You are correct it is better to have them on the road than rusting away. Hopefully any that have been converted can easily be returned to 4x4.
Ronnie
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Post by Charles on Dec 1, 2012 13:23:21 GMT 2
I drove my Niva in rwd version for about two weeks. Was flippen great fun. Sideways in corners and all that.
Each to their own. If you want to make it 2wd and that will better suitour needs then do it. The car was bought with your money not somebody elses.
I think your conversion will be really fun. Good luck.
Charles
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Ventzel
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Post by Ventzel on Dec 1, 2012 22:05:31 GMT 2
I adjust my carb to drink poor fuel mixture and my consumption is 8.5l /100 km (11.5 -11.7 km/l ) on open road. My wheels are 15", if I put factory 16" ones it could be even better (with "big foot" wheels probably it will be 8.5l /1km). And the car still runs great, of course not like F1 car. We all decided to drive small SUV not MiG 29 or moon walker. The main factor for the fuel consumption is the driver's style of driving. With whatever car. A modified Niva to 4x2 means overload to the remaining diff which is not designed to work for 2, moreover if the engine and the torque are bigger. It wont reduce the vibrations too. ........ >> "... nothing more than 5500 rpm --- which in my world does not make a sense..." I've seen thousands of Ladas but I'll be really exited to see Niva with the rev counter needle on 7500 rpm ---> to run, not stationary. Anyway, the car is your own property and you have the rights to do it whatever you wish. If this conversion makes you happy - carry on; the life is so boring and some more fun is always welcome. Ventz
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Post by ronnie on Dec 1, 2012 23:24:25 GMT 2
Hi Ventz
That is extremely good petrol consumption. I must admit I did not think about the rear diff now taking double the torque when you do not have the front diff connected. I do know with rear wheel drive only you have inferior road holding.
Ronnie
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Dec 2, 2012 18:12:42 GMT 2
Hi Ventz Totally agreed on dif load..however if the rear diff can handle hillclimbs in 4x4 and evan spin the rear wheels on a not so slippery surface, I reckon I should be ok.... I saw a niva on you tube that was turbocharged on the stock engine not sure if still 4x4 or not but it was putting enough horspower down to killa E36 BMW M3...if the diff can handle that type of load, the diff in my car will probably be thinking its on holiday.... Not interested in wheel spin or racing with the lada, it woul just be nice to maintain a 140kph cruising speed even going up a hill...and then remembering youre towing a trailer... ;D Im interested in the power thats kept in reserve for hills and towing purposes..however I would still like to see the face of new JIMNY/HILUX whatever owner if the lada flys by between robots...
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Dec 2, 2012 18:19:25 GMT 2
Regarding the vibrations.. My lada will have a single rear propshaft which would be specially made and then balanced...so should be vibration free since everything else on the road thats rear wheel drive and 2x4 is working this way and is vibration free.. Im cuurently busy with the Lada and was hoping to be finsihed in November however since I can only work on the car in the week at night time and some weekends, I couldnt finish and are still behind schedule...,however hope to be fnished or just very close to finish in January since I will be using my December break to really wrench it... I will be making sure to post photo of LADA RPM INDICATOR WHEN ON DYNO!!
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Post by Charles on Dec 2, 2012 19:46:11 GMT 2
If possible build a propshaft with a center bearing. Will be better for the gearbox.
Charles
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damian
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Post by damian on Dec 3, 2012 13:34:51 GMT 2
I want Ventz's fuel consumption. Dammit!
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Dec 4, 2012 15:30:03 GMT 2
All good and well to be dyno tested but on the road you will still have wind resistence, as the lada aint exactly ferrari shaped......
Ari
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Dec 4, 2012 20:02:27 GMT 2
I agree sir Arri the lada is and have more or less the same shape and aerodynamics as a brick... However if the standard Fuel injected Niva are able to achieve 140kph with only 80 HP(on the flywheel- and lets forget about the ponies lost through the drvetrain) I think I should be sorted and quite capable to tow mt quad bike, bass boat or venter trailer with double the HP on the wheels....and more than capable to maintain highway cruisong speeds...even whilst towing... ;D
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Feb 12, 2013 1:18:05 GMT 2
ok since im lately only using and or posting on facebook...and suppose to be studying I thought ill update my build thread for the guys to see... 1)propshaft made to fit the mazda gearboxand balanced! 2)Radiator modded and I will post pics for any future refernce and someone whom would like to do engine transplant as i foresee this as a standard mod for any transplant! 3)Steering arm custom made, will also post pics since there is no way of not modding on this if using different engine. 4)Motor mounts made and fitted, along with gearbox mounts! 5)Painted in my favourite colour ;D!BOOYAH 6)keeping the sidekick moulds and went for a charcoal colour. 7) kept my AC pump so will hopefully be as cool inside as it looks outside!(also reason fro modded radiator) 8)I entirly DYNAMATTED the whole niva, from the floor pan to the fire wall, to the doors even the roof! 9)Covered my seats in canvas and got new rooflinng made along with dash thats now covered! 10)Snorkel also being installed from lada world 11)got some original VAZ2121 electric window mechanisms on the internet with the motors so will be packing electric windows as well.
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Feb 12, 2013 1:19:01 GMT 2
primer Attachments:
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Feb 12, 2013 1:19:41 GMT 2
1st coat Attachments:
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oldschool
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Post by oldschool on Feb 12, 2013 1:21:05 GMT 2
finished the base coat but still no clearcoat....will be fetching the finished product tomorow Attachments:
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