Hi Fanus
As far as I know there are very little information available about these Fiat diesel conversions.
Quite some time ago I have been in contact with a guy from Macedonia, who has reported the first Fiat diesel conversion. This was his report :
"I fitted a Fiat 1.7D engine in Niva model from 1982. Diesel engine is much stronger than gasoline. If you do the conversion you will notice from the first ride. I've pulled up a truck on a hill with no troubles. Just turn on low speed (via transfer case) and nothing will stop you.
Fuel consumpsion is variable, depending on what terrain you will go. City consumption is 12 - 13 liters diesel per 100 km. Long distance consumpsion is 7 liters per 100 km. If you are using Niva for heavy terrain consumpsion wount pass 15 liters per 100 km. One Niva tank is fitting diesel around 30 - 35 liters.
Here are answers to questions you have asked:
OilPump.
Modification to the oil pump are minimal only to the one pipe. But you need to remake the oil holder at the bottom of engine (to look like Niva's original) so front differencial could stay at place .
Starter:
Question is what gearbox you will use. If you use Lada's gearbox, it has a little modification to starter and exhaust to be made (starter is going to be mounted under the exhaust) If you could find a Fiat 131 gearbox (or just ring bell) starter fits with no modification on the left side of engine. At my Niva is under the exhaust, so if starter fails, you need to remove intake and exhaust first, then get out the starter.
Other modifications:
Also you need to modificate engine holders, and fit the cooling.You can use the standard radiator, but you need to fit an electric fan. Also pipes from cooling pump needs to be modificated.
More Information:
Fiat 131 ring bell (gearbox housing) fit on Niva 1600cc engines, as well as 1700cc engines.
Fiat 131 gearboxes fit at the back end of ring bell (bellhousing) of 1600 Niva , as well as 1700 Niva .
Niva Transfer Case can be mounted behind Fiat 131 gearbox without any modification. I think that the Fiat 131 gearbox is the same length as Niva gearbox.
Fiat 132 gearbox is 7cm longer than Niva gearbox, and there are troubles to fit in.
At my niva in the beginning I used a Lada gearbox with 4 gears, two years later I found gearbox with 5 gears from Fiat 131/FSO, I just changed the ringbell at which was mounted starter, and I've fit in the starter with no troubles"
Read more:
locsa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=technical&action=display&thread=97#ixzz1XfTtHfLXUnfortunately this guy has sold his Lada since his report, and to my knowledge, no additional information is available.
Danie