1982 Lada Niva

[GoceKU]

Today i continued working on the little niva, Started with the rear diff, replacing the pinion seal. It was leaking so i installed a new one. Old one lasted nearly 40 years. I also changed the oil in it then moved on to changing the heater core valve. The old one has rotted away so i installed a new one i also used lots of hi temp silicone, i still need to install it in the dash.

 

[Arielht500]

Pleased to see you are back on the little Niva it is a very interesting project. Spent a lot of time in the past doing similar things on Land Rover vehicles and always liked the Niva for its simplicity and practical design. Just thought I would say that I admire your work ethic and thank you for posting. Steve in the UK.

 

[GoceKU]

Today i had some time to spare so i did some work on the little niva. First and it tool lot of my time was to take off the front driveshaft, clarence the gearbox mount and fit the front anti roll bar, i installed new clear poly bushings. Then i sorted thru my spares broth me some better tires for the rear and new brake calipers and pads for the front. The plan is to finish the rear end first then work on the front brakes and the heater. In preparation for that i removed the rear tires and put it on jack stands.

 

[GoceKU]

Today i continued working on the little niva, Started with the rear shock absorbers, then lowered down the axle removed the springs and installed new shocks. Then i looked thru my spares to find parts to make spacers for the rear springs. After some looking i don't have wide enough piece to make them from one piece but i did find a russian starter body, and two wheel spacers from a yugo, i'll weld them and machine them on my lathe.

 

[GoceKU]

Last few weeks i've been absent from this forum and from my garages, i've been helping taking care of my mother, she was battling cancer and on the 17th she passed away at age of 65. Today i got back in my machine shop to get some work done, i cut the starter body in half and welded the wheel spacers to them. Then i chuck them in my lathe, took couple cut from the back then flip them and bored them from the inside. They need to space the spring away from the body to lift the axle. The plan is to put the little niva back on its wheels so i can drive it in the big garage to do the rest of the work there. Its getting cold and this heated garage is more needed to keep the rest of the vehicle on the road.

 

[Gaffer]

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother. You're making great progress on your build and I enjoy your creativity.

 

[GoceKU]

Today i got back in the small garage, the little niva has been standing for too long in here. I installed the spacers but had to compress the rear springs to get them in. Attached the shocks and fide out i'll need to make extension for them, they are almost full extension at ride height. Fill the rear diff with new oil and install couple of better tires on the back. Now the Niva is no longer very little. The plan is to get it back in the big garage and do couple of the finishing tasks to get it back on the road.

 

[Firstram]

Very nice!

 

[GoceKU]

Today i had some time to spare so i moved the little niva, from the small to the big garage. I had to drive the w210 out so i can drive in the little niva. Front drive shaft is still hitting the mount.

 

[GoceKU]

This car again got put back on the back burner for a month. And today i woke up to this ( snowy mess) it snowed then it froze up. Yesterday was a t-shirt weather. And of course everyone how has drove there nivas to work, i was the only 4 door longer than 4 meters on the road. It happened on wednesday when i'm on top of the mountain on work, i did made it to work but now i'm more motivated to get it done. Today i've seen more nivas than ever, rolled, crashed nivas without plates, no police, police cars can move on the ice roads. Just as i finish the R. Scenic the niva is taking centre space in the garage.