1982 Lada Niva

[GoceKU]

After a small debacle this weekend with the ignition system i'm putting the little niva under the microscope. Coolant leak is so bad that is only water left in the cooling system and there is no heat and at night is getting cold, its november. So that system got taken apart. It's a simple car, only two radiators, one big in the front and a smaller one for the heater. The big one has developed leaks in very unusual place, i'll try to find a replacement. For the smaller one its copper i'll try to fit the entire heater box from a MK4 golf is has A/C and if i can get it in there i'll try to make mounts for the compressor. It will be a much more usable car if it has A/C in the summer. I had to take the entire dash out and old heater box, at this point is not looking good, because the VW box is 7 cm too big i'll have a better look if i can shorten it. But last ting i took apart was the old lada heater box and removed the hot water valve and it was plugged solid. I replaced that value less than a year ago. I'll be switching to G12 coolant, also a full cooling flash is in order.

 

[GoceKU]

Today i started with measuring taking apart the VW heater box and its too big also all the outlets are in completely the wrong spot. So i'm back on fixing the original russian unit, i left it sitting overnight with vinegar and today i used my pressure washer trying to unclog it but it still was not calculating. So i took my map gas torch and unsolder the top. I also removed and pressure wash the front big radiator, my parts guy can't find me a ford radiator. I may have to fix it but first i had to unclog the small radiator i used the pressure washer, oven cleaner and long thin piece of metal from windscreen wiper. I also clean off the top and had to make a brass bolt on my lathe. With that the small radiator is ready to be soldered together but i run out of time.

 

[GoceKU]

Today i solder the top on the small radiator but it seems i've overheated it, now it leaks like a sieve. Because it is so tight i have to remove the top again and do the repair from the inside. And i just don't have the energy for that again. It's a russian part and they are cheap so i've ordered one from k. palanka and it will be here tomorrow it was 24$. The big radiator also got my attention i did ground back the leaking places and apply some clear epoxy, i've used this staff before and seems to hold on plastics, here is on aluminium and plastic. My parts guy found me a chinese radiator like that for 600$ i said no thanks.

 

[pontiac428]

Looks like the heater radiator never had a chance. Good thing they are cheap! The big radiator looks like it came from a VW Scirocco, in case Lada radiators aren't cheap.

 

[GoceKU]

Looks like the heater radiator never had a chance. Good thing they are cheap! The big radiator looks like it came from a VW Scirocco, in case Lada radiators aren't cheap.

It's a radiator from a Ford sierra, merkur in the US. When i build it few years ago i decided not to use a lada radiator because the lada radiator are to small and with the raised compression of my engine Lada radiator will cause the engine to overheat.

 

[great white]

We haven’t had “merkur xr4ti” since 1989 on this side of the pond. Ford killed off the entire Merkur line in 1989 and they’re a pretty scarce model in NA. Not that desirable either…probably why Ford axed the whole line. A sales dud is, well….a dud.

Europe carried on the sierra model until (IIRC) 1991, when the Mondeo replaced it.

So if thats a merkur/sierra rad, its pretty old….

 

[GoceKU]

So if thats a merkur/sierra rad, its pretty old….

1992 its date I've had couple of sierras and scorpios they were great cars for their date, good driving dynamics fun cars but like every car from the 80's low on power and rusted. The mondeo that replaced it was a real dog it took ford couple of tries till MK3 mondeo with the duratec (Mazda) engines to make a good driving car in my opinion.

 

[GoceKU]

Today the new heater radiator arrived its aluminium and plastic but its 40 years newer. I attached the valve and pipes, squeezed it in the freshly washed box and installed new fome to force the air to go thru the radiator. Assembled the heater box lubricated all the pivots and cables, lubricate the fan motor, testing the resistor for the first fan speed. I left the silicone i used on the pipes to dry and tomorrow i'll start assembling it, i'm already miss driving this car.

 

[GoceKU]

I've forgotten to update this thread, the little Niva got put together the next day from my last up writing and has been in use ever since. The radiator repairs are holding no more leaks and i have good heat inside. Not sure if it's ironic that the weather is like spring 15c (60 F) in mid december.

 

[GoceKU]

One of the drawbacks i've found with is little 4x4 and the modifications i've done is that is very hard to get in the back seats. The seats i used are from a big 4 door even with a hinge they don't move much. So couple of days ago i got the front seats for a mk4 golf 3 door, they are not very comfortable so i'll leave the comfortable peugeot seat on the drivers side, just match the height with the mounts. To cut out then weld in the sliders for backwards and forward is too much work in a car with full interior. So i just extended and welded on the existen mounts. That seat has an additional mechanisms for moving up and forward and the tilt forward still work and makes enough space for getting in the back seat. At the end i clean the seat and left it to dry in place when it dries i'll install the seat covers. No more terrain off pants and skirts when getting in and out.