It was a beautiful day out so i took the little niva for a drive to a near bay historic monument (Зебрњак). It has a good panoramic look over the surroundings, the road going to it is rooted but that is no issue for the little niva. You can just see the little niva in the last picture next to the serbian flag. I did hear about a classic car show on the 11th, i may attend even may show the little niva at.
On the 11th i took the little niva to its first classic car show, the first one organised in my city. It was a two part show, first on the city square and of course a vw golf got stuck on the entrance. There was also couple of modify cars like the blue vw beetle with the hood vents it has alfa romeo 1,5 boxer engine and its liquid cooled, the blue zastava 750 (abarth copy). There were few motorcycles, C4 vette, dodge power wagon, opel kapitan and others. The other part of the show was in "Pelince" about 28 km from the city centre, most of the car come there and there were few local cars like the lada wagon same year and color as mine still on its factory paint. There was a much more relaxed atmosphere, barbecues, lawn chairs it was more of a picnic and there was lots of shade and fresh air. The little niva knows that road because is close to one of my work places. It was fun to see all the chrome bumper cars on the road some of them were slow, others like the corvette left us in the dust, i did pass most of the slow cars, the cops did gave me the look for passing 3 cars at once. And at ASNOM Memorial Center was fun to see all the car entering the low ones had to go thru the loading road, me with my ground clearance jump the curb went around the long que of cars thru a fallen down fance and parked in the best shade, and wached the others enter. I took lots of pictures, i hope you like seeing them.
Probably the most used car every day there, i was talking to the organiser at Pelince, about the historic plats i did not know that my country had them. He asked where do i drive it, my workplace was visible it was the mountain above us. He said hmm, there are no roads where i answer so what. He definitely wasn't expecting when i told him how many kilometers i've driven sence i've fix it up. My stealth style with modifying cars under and looking a stock as possible, a german couple talk to me they know the niva's very well and said they own few in germany. They noticed the 5 speed swap, reinforced bumpers, big radiator, but weren't expecting the extent of my mods, like lower diff ratios, dual fuel systems, rear disk brakes, peugeot seats, duel trailer hitches, i did hand him the keys to drive it but he was too shy. That was the other thing that differs, my little niva was open with rolled down windows all the time kids and people sit inside to take pictures all day long in both locations, others had their cars locked with signs do not touch even arguing with people leaning on their cars.
Taking the little niva to the car show, one thing come too often to ignore. The rust on the trunk door, that is a known rust spot on the nivas. Unfortunately the trunk door for the old style is not in production and there is no new doors. Ever since i first did the body work i know that the door is bent and after years of searching i finally found a add for a parts niva in a city across the country. Call the guy he said the trunk door is good, he even sent me couple of bad pictures. We agree on 40$ and he sent via transportation company, for which i also pay. I was very excited i can do minimal body work and have it fit good. Well than this shows up, it is in worst shape than the one i have. To say i was disappointed is an understatement, at first he try to play it off but i had the text messages with his answers. Best i could get was a partial refund we agree on 17$ when the money arrived he pay back 15$. With that drama over i took the trunk door apart, removed the badge, broken handle, trim panel, glass. This door is from a 85-90 niva because it has the indention the the rear wiper and two holes for the wireing and washer. I'll install it on the car to check will it fit and is it straight. If its good i'll fix the rust and apply covety wax to protect it.
I've been ordering more russian car parts. I'm buying parts for the "new" engine build, also i've bought a reinforced lobro joint. I put in a new about a year ago and it ripped now vibrates and makes all kinds of noises. The other parts i bought is an OEM timing chain, automatic chain tensioner, layshaft bearing also reinforced and a distributor and oil pump drive gear. I've started buying all OEM parts i can find because price is almost the same but quality is very different
Last few weeks i've not been driving the little niva because of a bad driveline vibration. I know from the sound that is the lobro joint, my right foot seam to find and kill them on any car. I did bought a reinforced joint to go in but i also want to change the mounts and make a full support cage for the transfer case and gearbox. I started with taking out both covers for the gear livers in the interior then driveshafts, then unbolting the exhaust and the joint at the gearbox. Took off one wire and lower the transfer case and took it out. I did all this work without lifting the car. Next i want to remove the gearbox and it looks it will fit to be removed without lifting it of the ground. Having worked on cars all my life this is unusual for me taking it apart while still is on its wheel. Cold weather is coming and i want to drive it lets hope i don't find something more broken.
My daughter left boxes of nail polish in the house, so I mark things I've done and adjustment points I might forget with a dab of paint in various bright colors
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