Two plus five equals four: the history of the development of the VAZ-2104

The opportunities that open up for the car owner make it possible to transform any car, making it even better than it was before. Owners of domestic cars are also actively interested in such opportunities and actively use them in practice. Today we will look at tuning the VAZ-21043, we will analyze possible options that can be applied in practice.

Internal changes

The inside of the car will require just as much work as the outside. By internal tuning we mean pumping the engine, replacing the brake system and modifying the interior. But first things first.

Engine and brakes

Tuning of domestic cars is embodied not only in external changes, but also in internal ones. Believe me, there are many parts under the hood that need reorganization or complete replacement. The main element of any car - the engine - is primarily subject to tuning. If your car has its original power unit, which has faithfully served its intended life, then it is better to send it to a well-deserved rest, that is, to scrap metal. Still, the metal is quite tired, and there is also physical wear and tear - these factors do not allow us to talk about further refinement and boosting. There is only one conclusion - the old engine, which has unscrewed several circles of the speedometer, must be replaced, and newer units can still be worked on.

A worthy replacement for the old engine will be a powerful unit taken from the VAZ-21213, its volume will be 1900 cm3. Its power can be increased from 79 to 120 horses, but this will require some effort and parting with your hard-earned money. The forcing process consists of boring the channels, grinding the intake manifold, and installing cast pistons with a diameter of 82 mm. To change the valve timing, you will need to purchase a new camshaft, with which it will be possible to lift the valves up to 10.8 mm.

By using a sports crankshaft of 88 mm and increasing the level of piston lift, you can increase the volume of the power unit and make it easier to remove the increased force that occurs during the combustion of the fuel-air mixture.

Installing a lightweight flywheel will reduce the loss of power that is spent on spinning up the engine. As a result, the car will gain the required speed in a short time.

The exhaust and power system also need modernization, which consists of installing an air filter, a sports exhaust manifold and a direct-flow muffler.


The engine of any old car needs to be modernized

It remains to modernize the brakes, which are responsible for the safety of the driver, his passengers and other road users. The drum brakes, which are available on the rear axle in the VAZ-2104, are difficult to operate and are also not effective enough. Their replacement is required; 13-inch ventilated disc brakes are well suited for this.

Change of interior

The effect of all external changes that occurred with the VAZ-2104 will be irrevocably spoiled by the outdated interior. Internal tuning is no less important than upgrading the engine and working on the body. Everything can be very simple here. If the seats are in good condition but look shabby, you can replace the upholstery. If you have enough funding, you can choose leather material for upholstery, but any other will also look good. Carbon fiber decor is a great way to enhance the effect of tuning and make the interior more expensive.

Any car can be restored, transformed and improved upon its previous characteristics. This is especially true for domestic models, for example, the VAZ-2104; do-it-yourself tuning, although it requires an investment of money and finances, is worth it.

Engine and chassis tuning

Internal tuning of the VAZ-2104 is aimed at increasing dynamics. To do this, it is necessary to modify the carburetor by installing carburetor diffusers to 4.5 mm, increasing the diameter of the accelerator pump, and replacing it with jets with higher throughput. To create a uniform flow of fuel, you can install two carburetors.

Changes should also affect the ignition system, in which the factory high-voltage wires must be replaced with high-quality equipment. All this will create conditions for stable operation of the engine.

To improve dynamic properties, modern tuners install a sports camshaft. An increase in the power of the power unit can be achieved by boring the engine block. Depending on the engine available on the “four”, the block can be bored for pistons up to 82 mm.

You can increase the compression of a factory-installed engine by installing elongated connecting rods and shortened pistons. To reduce inertia, you need to lighten the crankshaft and replace it (in some situations, the flywheel is replaced with a lightweight one). If you have the financial opportunity, you can install a turbine, but this can cost approximately 70,000-80,000 rubles. When tuning the exhaust system, the exhaust manifold is replaced with a “Spider” one.

The approximate price of almost all the tuning elements indicated above can be found in the table.

Tuning elementCost, in rubles
Tint film370 per 10 cm.
Xenon installationFrom 1000 to 4500
Eyelashes for headlights350
Arc-shaped trunkFrom 1190
Alloy wheelsFrom 1725 rub. per piece
Wide profile tiresFrom 5279
Sports shock absorbersFrom 3200
Dashboard lighting430
Sports camshaftFrom 6820
Exhaust system "Spider"3600
Bumpers2100

Thus, tuning a VAZ-2104 can completely change the appearance and internal structure of the car, but this will require significant financial investments. But you should never forget about your own safety. In this regard, all work aimed at modernizing the car should not violate traffic regulations and reduce the safety indicator when moving in it.

If you apply a fair amount of creativity, you can breathe new life into the VAZ-2104. Many people love the legendary four, because they are truly unique. But in the modern world, this car model still looks unattractive, so let’s use all our imagination and ensure that the car gets a new look, and with it a new, more modern life.

In this article we will look at how to tuning your VAZ 2104, photos of which fill the Internet.

Tuning the interior of a VAZ 2104

How to make a spray gun for whitewashing with your own hands How to make a spray gun with your own hands Types of paint spray guns

Time has passed and after long nights in the garage under the car and on it, in front of you is a completely new, luxurious car with a strong engine and a fantastically attractive exterior. Now the stars have aligned in the right direction and the time has come to upgrade the interior

He has been waiting for a very long time for people to pay attention to him and he really needs it, because he is old and ugly

There are many options for changes here. First, change the lighting of the VAZ 2104 instruments. The inside of the car will become more joyful and optimistic. And driving the car will become much more comfortable.

What you need to replace the backlight:

  • LED bulbs;
  • screwdrivers of different sizes;
  • strong glue;
  • modern, fashionable scales for the speedometer and other instruments;

First of all, we remove the instrument panel of the “four”. We uncork the special latches on all sides of the shield and unscrew the bolts with screwdrivers. Separate the scales and turn off the backlighting devices. We place diode lamps in the vacant spaces and insert translucent scales above them. You can spread glue on the edges of the scales. We check the operation of the devices and install the panel back.

A lowered interior and reduced ground clearance are also ways to achieve a new ideal look for your “fourth” baby.

A useful technical insert that eliminates body sway and softens the ride is air springs, they are mounted inside the springs. Air springs work both on a lifted body and when the car is factory assembled.

Nothing pleases the eye like a good car paint job. Correctly selected color scheme and competent application of paint is already half the success. Spit in the eyes of anyone who says that airbrushing is only for expensive cars produced exclusively in the West. To upgrade the VAZ 2104, it is necessary like air. A wide space on the body attracts the hand of a talented artist, with a spray bottle in his hand.

Arography is not a scribble, but a true art. Remove everything unnecessary from the car that could spoil a beautifully painted picture, in short, remove the trunk from the roof. Dismantle the factory engine, which still remembers the heyday of Soviet power, and take it to the farthest scrap metal collection point. Anyone who has studied strength of strength knows that metal fatigue has not been canceled. When the engine is on its last legs, the chances of making it more powerful, stronger and more modern are zero. The possibility of forcing is completely excluded.

An engine from the distant past will replace a cooler, modernized engine from a VAZ 21213 with a volume of 1900 cm3. If you want more, well, then pay! Bore the duct head, grind the intake manifold and install 82mm cast pistons and a new camshaft. An 88 mm crankshaft with high piston lift will make the engine displacement larger and make it easier to remove the increased force of the burning mixture.

A new modern flywheel will reduce power loss during engine spin-up and make it possible to quickly pick up speed.

(2019)

Modifications and factory tuning 2104

VAZ 2104 is a rather rare VAZ model in terms of the number of trim levels. At different times you could find four with the following indexes, gearboxes, interiors and engines:

  • regular 2104, engine 2105, carburetor, four-speed gearbox, base;
  • 21043, a more powerful version of the car with a troika engine, among them there were options with the interior and electrical equipment from 2107, and for the first time a 5-speed gearbox could be installed on it;
  • 21044 - a car with a 1700 cc injection seven engine and a 5-speed gearbox;
  • 21045 - a rare diesel modification with a VAZ 341 engine, it was produced only for six years, until 2006;
  • 21041i - 1.6-liter six engine with injection, interior and electrical equipment from 2107, front seats from Izh 2126.

Otherwise, except for the rear part of the cabin, the seat back and the luggage compartment, the 2104 was no different from the five.

VAZ-2104 engine and its features

Do-it-yourself tuning of the VAZ 2106 interior

Engine 2104-1000260

can be used for installation on VAZ 2103, 2104, 2106, 21053, 2107 cars. Initially, the VAZ 2104 engine was produced only in a carburetor version. Subsequently, it was modified to use a fuel injection system and received the designation VAZ 2104-21. The VAZ 2104 engine was created on the basis of the previous model - VAZ 2103. The design used: a cylinder block, a connecting rod and piston group, a timing drive and a crankshaft from the 2103 engine.

photo VAZ-2104 engine

Cylinder block from a VAZ 2103 engine. Cylinder diameter - 76.00 mm. The accepted overhaul dimensions are 76.40 and 76.80. The engine is equipped with a crankshaft 2103 or an interchangeable shaft model 21213. To ensure the operation of the injection system, it was necessary to install components and parts from other engines that were originally developed for an injection fuel supply system. A new camshaft drive cover is used, on which there is space for installing a sensor that controls the position of the crankshaft. It was necessary to install cylinder head 2104-1003015, an original design, with enlarged areas for the intake manifold. The design of the head provides for the installation of nozzles. The camshaft, valves and springs correspond to those installed on the VAZ 2103 engine. The installation of hydraulic supports for the valve levers is not provided. The timing drive is carried out from a double-row bush-roller chain 2103-1006040. The chain tensioning mechanism is mechanical, similar to the device on the VAZ 2103 engine.

A pulley with a damper and a drive disk 21214-1005058-11 is installed on the crankshaft. To drive the generator, a belt 2107-1308020 is used (length - 944 mm). The injection modification 2104 has an original power system. The system includes an electric fuel pump with a fuel level indicator sensor, fuel lines, a fuel filter, a fuel rail with injectors, an air filter, air supply hoses, a throttle valve and a fuel vapor recovery system. To clean the air entering the engine, an air filter model 2112 is installed. A receiver model 2104 or model 2123-1008027 is installed together with the intake manifold. To adjust the volume of incoming air, a throttle pipe 2112 is installed. The electric fuel pump module 21073-1139009 is installed in the tank and supplies fuel to the fuel rail and injectors. The original fuel rail 2104-1144010 is used, box type with pressure regulator and return drain pipe. Injection is carried out using four nozzles of pair-parallel action. It is possible to install nozzles BOSCH 0 280 158 502 (black, thin), SIEMENS VAZ 6393 (beige, thick) or other types with the appropriate parameters. The ignition system includes: a Model 2112 ignition module mounted on a special bracket on the cylinder block, spark plugs and high voltage wires. The ignition module includes two ignition coils and two electronic control devices. In accordance with control signals from the control unit, the ignition module generates and supplies high-voltage pulses to the spark plugs. Ignition control is assigned to the electronic engine management system. This system controls the amount of air and fuel supplied to the cylinders, controls the operation of the fuel pump, controls the supply of high-voltage pulses from the ignition coil to the spark plugs and adjusts the ignition timing, regulates the crankshaft speed at idle. The main control element of the system is the electronic control unit (ECU)-controller. The engine complies with EURO-2 toxicity standards.

The VAZ 2104 model was produced until 2012, and in recent years the car was produced in Izhevsk. She received many modifications. Cars of recent years of production were equipped with a radiator grille from the VAZ 2107.

Two plus five equals four: the history of the development of the VAZ-2104

Having “promoted” the so-called “Fiat” models, the “kopek” and the VAZ-2103 , to the required level, VAZ first slightly modernized the first one, releasing a modification of the VAZ-21011 , and then really began developing their own models - the all-wheel drive Niva, the “super-luxury” VAZ 2106 , as well as products of deeper intervention in the Fiat platform - we are talking about the “five” and VAZ-2107 . Let's not forget that by the beginning of the eighties, a fundamentally new model was almost completely ready - the first front-wheel drive hatchback VAZ-2108 . Thus, almost the entire model range was thoroughly shaken up for the new decade. And only the VAZ-2102 station wagon was produced without any special changes, although the base model 2101 was noticeably outdated by that time. There was no point in upgrading it “to level zero eleven” - the absence of fangs on the bumpers and a different number of vertical slats on the radiator grille would hardly have made the “kopeck piece” more modern. The conclusion suggested itself: the new station wagon model had to be produced on the basis of the most modern Zhiguli of the fifth family.

Sales markets

Despite the fact that the USSR has always traditionally loved sedans, five-door station wagons were popular and in demand among both summer residents and residents of rural areas. They drove cars “on business” - that is, they usually used them to transport goods, furniture or gardening equipment. The station wagon, for all its shortcomings, had one huge advantage - with the rear seat folded down, an impressive platform was formed inside, which made it possible to transport both large household appliances and long items.


The “spacious belly” of the VAZ-2102 was appreciated both in the Soviet Union and abroad

The owners of the “two” quickly realized the charm of their car, which, with its “Zhiguli” dimensions, made it possible to transport substantial “swag” inside (and not on the roof!). That is why, by the early eighties, the VAZ station wagon had formed a stable circle of admirers on the domestic market, which was aggravated by the relatively small production volumes of this model compared to sedans.

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But five-door Zhigulis were in demand not only on the domestic market: in the countries of Eastern and even Western Europe, Soviet station wagons were also actively purchased, although for slightly different reasons.

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Europeans associated this type of body with an active lifestyle, allowing them to transport various sports equipment. In addition, tight-fisted residents of small towns and villages also appreciated the extraordinary cargo capabilities of the “Soviet Familiare”.

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But by that time Fiat had long since discontinued sedans and station wagons based on the 124th model platform, and the “naive, round-eyed” two-piece looked archaic even by the standards of socialist camp motorists who were not too spoiled by modern technology. And the further it went, the more it was felt - interest in the first models began to noticeably fade away. But every exported Zhiguli means foreign exchange earnings, which were more important for the Soviet economy than their own “wooden” ones, which were used to pay buyers of Zhigulis within the country. That is why the new station wagon had to appear in a short time - if there is demand, then according to the laws of a market economy there must be supply.

Fifth base

The fifth family was not given to the plant too easily: the desire to modernize the Zhiguli, produced on the Fiat platform of the mid-sixties, as much as possible was not best combined with technological and financial limitations. It was impossible to touch the doorways and the roof, but at the same time it was necessary to “pull up” the classics to the standards of the early eighties. In essence, it was necessary to make a new one out of an old car, limiting itself to minimal changes.

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As a result, it was possible to “squeeze out” almost everything from the plan: thanks to the angular shapes, the “five” received a much more modern body in appearance, and the interior, compared to the “penny”, has changed radically. After all, not only completely different upholstery parts, seats and dashboard appeared in the interior, but also more efficient ventilation and heating systems. The new image was complemented by large block headlights and large rear lights - no worse than on similar “foreign cars” of those years!

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In particular, the Fiat 131 had similar solutions for the front end - probably when developing the “five” it could not have been done without a thoughtful analysis of Italian innovations.

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However, the VAZ-2105 differed from the first Zhiguli model not only in appearance, but also in the engine: the 1300 cc power unit received a drive innovation - a toothed belt in the gas distribution mechanism drive instead of a classic chain. And so that if the belt breaks, the pistons do not “collide” with the valves, special recesses were provided in the bottoms of the piston group. The ignition and power systems have become more modern, making the “zero fifth” engine quieter, more economical and environmentally friendly.


The VAZ-2105 has been noticeably modernized not only visually

In addition, a vacuum booster appeared in the brake system, and the rear brake mechanisms were equipped with “self-feeding” cylinders, so that adjustment of the gap between the drum and the pads was no longer required.

The Five has become noticeably easier to drive thanks to the upgraded steering and new radial tires of the MI-166 model.

2+5=4

When creating a new model, the designers needed to connect the “new” platform from the VAZ-2105 with the rear part of the station wagon, because one of the most expensive stamps (roof panel) had to remain unchanged, and the doorways, by analogy with the “five”, retained their kinship with "kopeck piece".

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Of course, the shape of the outer panels of the rear doors and rear wings needed to be consistent with the “five-point” ones - that is, to “square” them somewhat, and instead of the naive narrow flashlights from the Fiat 124 Familiare, the new model required appropriate lighting equipment - rectangular and much larger in size. At the same time, for better visibility, the rear window was enlarged, because the door of the new car was original. In accordance with the trends of those years, a rear window cleaner and heated rear window were included as additional equipment. Perhaps now such an “option” seems ridiculous, but in the USSR only a few cars were equipped with it.

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By the end of 1980, specialists from the Office of the Chief Designer of VAZ had prepared the necessary technical documentation - that is, the “four” was ready to go into production just at the moment when the VAZ-2105 began to roll off the assembly line.

However, due to the launch of the “Seven” series and preparations for the production of the VAZ-2108, the new station wagon had to “languish in anticipation” a little. Only in 1983 was it possible to weld, paint and assemble the first “living prototypes”, and the pilot production batch of VAZ-2104 rolled off the assembly line in the summer of 1984.

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Thus, the “four” waited for their turn for several years. Over the remaining six months in 1984, they planned to assemble over 5,000 new station wagons, but for various reasons, three times fewer cars were produced.

The model's informational debut took place in the January 1985 issue of Za Rulem magazine.

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The planned design capacity was reached almost simultaneously with the discontinuation of the “kopeck piece” - that is, throughout 1985, and since 1986, over 50,000 “fours” rolled off the assembly line annually.

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No retirement

The high demand for the new station wagon turned out to be stable - especially since there were no cars with this type of body in the front-wheel drive family, and the “four” did not seem outdated at all compared to the rest of the rear-wheel drive model range.

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In Europe, dealers offered to increase the load capacity of the VAZ-2104 using a roof box

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“Four” overseas: there was a Signet model for the Canadian market

That is why the car was produced without any special changes until 2012 - that is, almost thirty years!

The “Four” underwent a slight modernization in parallel with the base fifth model, and after the “native” belt-driven engine was discontinued, most modifications with the index 21043 were equipped with the good old VAZ-2103 engine.

Most of the “fours” were produced with a one and a half liter VAZ-2103 engine


There was an export modification with a 1700 cc engine equipped with a distributed fuel injection system

However, in the late nineties there was an attempt to convert station wagons to heavy fuel, but the “fours” with the VAZ-341 vortex chamber diesel engine never became widespread.


“Seven” front end and wheels of the VAZ-2108 – this is what the cars of the last years of production, manufactured outside of Tolyatti, looked like


The “chubby” steering wheel gives out a late “four”


There was also a modification with a “seven” interior, but in the early years it could only be found abroad

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In addition to Togliatti, this model was produced both in the near and far abroad: since 2001, the “four” from Russian vehicle kits began to be assembled at several Ukrainian car factories - in Lutsk, Kherson and Kremenchug, and at the same time, using SKD technology, the assembly of VAZ- 2104 was established in...Egypt!

The Volzhsky car was produced until 2004 - later in Tolyatti in this form factor it was completely replaced by the VAZ-2111, and production was moved to Izhevsk and Syzran. The later “fours” received a distributed fuel injection system instead of an archaic carburetor, a five-speed gearbox and new front seats, but in the “zero” years, interest in the car began to gradually decline - by that time the “four” had become too outdated and unassuming compared to other cars , including new Russian station wagon models, among which are the Togliatti Kalina and Priora. Nevertheless, until September 2012, the VAZ-2104 was produced at the IzhAvto plant, which provided the second VAZ station wagon with the charisma of a real long-liver.

Body tuning

Do-it-yourself VAZ 2112 tuning with photo

As a rule, first of all, drivers are engaged in upgrading the body, and such work can be both superficial and major.

Firstly, you can change the glass a little, for which you just need to purchase a tint film and paste it over the car windows, and in no case should you forget about the existing tinting standards. Fortunately, the modern market is able to offer car enthusiasts many different shades of tint film, so you can always choose the most suitable film. It is quite possible to glue the film yourself, especially since you can now find many manuals on this type of work on the Internet.

Secondly, the modern market offers car owners a variety of special body linings, with the help of which any car enthusiast can modify the body shape of a VAZ 2104

Before starting such a repair of a VAZ 2104, it is extremely important to obtain at least basic skills in working with the body, since otherwise, during the first trip after modernization, the car may simply fall apart. There are metal, plastic, fiberglass linings, and there are also carbon fiber body parts on the market

As a rule, the quality and price of body elements depends on the type of material.

Any car is given a special uniqueness by a design specially created for it, that is, airbrushing, but this service is known to be quite expensive. However, if you have the ability to draw, you can handle this yourself - you just need to take the work seriously.

What is the opinion of the owners

Lada 2104 attracts with its high utilitarianism, which ensures good demand for it. Owners value high practicality and high-torque engines, but reliability raises questions among many. Reviews say that the main weakness of the model is its poor corrosion resistance.

Tuning the “Four” is widespread. The changes concern the styling of the station wagon, as well as improving interior amenities.

In order to increase the traction performance of engines, owners bore the cylinders and install a more efficient carburetor. More detailed information about the modifications to the machine is contained in the videos, which can be found on the Internet.

Body transformation

In the process of tuning the famous “four” from VAZ, the greatest attention is paid to changing the body. Its design has long been no longer considered attractive and modern; now this angular shape looks outdated and unattractive

You can tune the body in several options, which differ in cost and amount of work:

  1. easy consists of replacing the radiator grille, tinting the windows, installing rims on the wheels and a Vikhur skirt;
  2. with average body tuning, it will be necessary to install alternative optics, replace the body kit, think about the likelihood of ordering professional airbrushing and shaving, which involves removing handles, locks and moldings;
  3. deep, as you might guess, is the most complex, expensive and time-consuming, since it requires changes in the body structure, for example, changing the roof level, converting to a coupe, installing lambo doors.

Even a light tuning option will transform the appearance of the car. Sparkling chrome on the body, solid tinted windows, rare or, conversely, ultra-modern wheel covers - and your car will already look decent on the road.


Transformation of the appearance of the VAZ-21043

Changing the body structure

And if you take a more serious approach to transforming a domestic car and decide to “truncate” the body, then you can get a small-sized car that can be deftly drifted and easily maneuvered. To get such a powerful baby, it is necessary to remove part of the passenger compartment and reduce the length of the driveshaft. You shouldn’t expect significant fuel savings; consumption will decrease, but not as significantly as we would like. Now we need to do the electrical wiring, reinstall the brake lines, carefully close everything up and repaint the improved body. Another drastic solution is to move the spare tire to the trunk lid. But such a design, as they say, is not for everybody.

The body structure can change not only in length, but also in height. Typically, the interior height is lowered by a maximum of 15 cm. This result can be achieved by cutting the pillars, changing the front bumper, and rear lighting. In this case, the exterior changes dramatically. It will not be easy to get used to such dimensions of the car.

If you are lucky enough to drive on perfect asphalt, then you can transform your VAZ-2104 in a rare Stance style. Its essence is to install short springs and small diameter discs. A car with such changes is quite rare, so your VAZ-2104 can become a unique specimen. A more popular type of tuning is body lifting, which is the opposite of Stance. Such a car can easily overcome bad sections of the road and even off-road.


VAZ-2104 in Stance style

The controversial point is the need to strengthen the body support areas. This point cannot be called mandatory, but it is still better if it is implemented. This will definitely not make anyone worse. The installation of rigid springs, which is provided for during the tuning process, requires reinforced metal. For the front suspension, you can choose springs from the Volga, and the rear shock absorbers can be taken from the Gazelle front end.

You seriously need to think about installing air springs that will prevent the body from swaying and make the ride softer. Air springs are installed inside the springs. A similar element can be added to a lifted and standard body, its operation will not change.

Coloring

Body painting is an important element in any tuning. Still, this parameter is most striking and can highlight any car. There are several ways to solve this problem. You can go the standard route and cover the body with regular paint with an interesting effect (metallic, chameleon, matte, glossy). One of the new solutions is liquid rubber. Such painting will not only make the tuned car expressive, but will also protect the body from external influences. Airbrushing can be used not only on expensive foreign cars, but also on models of the domestic automobile industry. It is better to entrust such coloring to specialists who have extensive experience in this field and will be able to transfer any imagination to metal. Airbrushing requires compliance with the declared status, and if you have chosen this method of transformation, then an awkward roof rack, old wheels or a rusty trailer will make the car look ridiculous and tasteless.


Airbrushing makes the VAZ-2104 more expressive

VAZ-2104 Station wagon. History of photography characteristics. Years of production 1984 2012

photo of VAZ-2104 “Universal”

VAZ 2104

- a Soviet passenger car with a station wagon body type, developed at the VAZ plant. Serially produced from 1984 to 2012. The model was developed as a replacement for the outdated 2102 station wagon. For some time, 2102 and 2104 were produced at the plant in parallel. When creating a new model, the plant followed the path of least cost and used the VAZ 2105 as the base model. All spare parts were subject to maximum unification. To add rigidity, stampings appeared on the roof of the new model. Unlike the 2102 model, the “four” was equipped with a heated rear window as standard. From the mid-1990s, a rear windshield wiper was included as standard. The base model received the interior from the 2105. The station wagon's load capacity was 455 kg, almost double the maximum load capacity of the 2102. The model inherited the rear door design from its predecessor. Its edge coincided with the floor level, which made loading and unloading luggage easier. The rear seat folds down to create a huge loading area.

External and interior tuning

First, about useful improvements that also affect the appearance of the four. Everyone knows the problem with constant splashing on the back door. When driving at high speed, a vacuum is created in the area of ​​the trunk door, where dust particles are drawn in along with a water suspension. This problem can be solved in two ways:

Tuning the interior is a creative flight for the car owner. Good tools here are those that make the station wagon more functional and comfortable.

Upholstering the seats with leather or expensive materials is unlikely to be the best solution for a utilitarian station wagon, although if the VAZ 2104 is the only car in the family, then it would be appropriate to install high-quality sound, a front panel from foreign cars or a console from the 2107 model. Love your car and let it serve for a long time , reliably, in heat and cold.

Good luck to everyone and smooth roads!

VAZ-2104 do-it-yourself tuning

Considering that the design of the “four” dates back to the 70-80s of the last century, we can safely say that the field for work on improving the car is very wide. It all depends only on the flight of your imagination and the availability of funds that are worth spending on it. The main thing is not to overdo it. Generally speaking, improvements can be made here:

  • appearance;
  • optics;
  • engine;
  • chassis;
  • salon.

Let's briefly look at some options - in fact, there are a lot of them, so a complete list simply cannot fit into the article. If people are greeted by their clothes, then a car is greeted by its appearance. The body shapes of the “four” are clearly outdated compared to the more modern “classmates”. You can change the situation a little by tinting the windows. On this model, they are all straight, without bends, so gluing the film yourself will not be particularly difficult. You just need to spend a little time.

Henry Ford once said that 50 percent of the beauty of a car is its wheels. Accordingly, you can modernize the “four” by replacing the stock steel wheels with light alloy wheels. It is also not recommended to save money here, since we are talking about your safety. Therefore, the main criterion should not be attractive appearance, but the quality of the discs.

You can add dynamism with the help of a circular body kit painted in the body color. However, remember that by doing this you are reducing the vehicle's ground clearance. In the outback, the roads often leave much to be desired, so the risk of leaving part of the body kit on the road, having the loaded vehicle fall into one of the many potholes, is quite high. By the way, about the body color. If you have available funds, you can give your car a more modern look by painting it. It is recommended to use a bright shade of the color indicated in the data sheet. There is another option called airbrushing. An original design on the hood, doors, trunk lid - all this will add originality and attractiveness to your car.

You can also install a more modern radiator grille - for example, with large honeycombs. Some even redo the entire front part of the car. However, such work is very labor-intensive and requires certain skills. If you have never done this before, then it is better not to undertake such processing.

Changing the optics is not only a continuation of improving the appearance, but also increasing driver comfort at night. Xenon headlights make driving at night much easier, and LED angel eyes built inside will change the appearance of the car for the better. Compared to the rather dull stock optics, this is an excellent tuning option, and also relatively inexpensive. Well, you can complement the picture with the help of modern foglights.

The power unit of the “four” also needs tuning. The entire line of engines installed by the manufacturer on the VAZ-2104 does not shine in terms of power. Accordingly, some things here can be improved. The most common option is to increase the volume by boring the cylinders and increasing the piston stroke. If everything is done correctly, you can count on an increase of several tens of horsepower. And the torque will increase. Such work requires some experience. The best option is to remove and install the necessary parts yourself, while the most important work is entrusted to specialists. In order to increase the piston stroke, you must first replace the stock crankshaft. Only after this can you begin installing forged pistons and connecting rods.

The chassis of the “four” is also not the limit of perfection. It is clear that for such a price many owners are willing to put up with the shortcomings. However, some still decide to improve this part of the car. The easiest option is to replace the stock struts with sports struts with double springs. This tuning allows you to feel much more confident on the road.

The spartan interior decoration of the Quartet is also not liked by many of its owners. Meanwhile, there are many possible options for tuning. The first thing a person sees when sitting in the driver’s seat of a VAZ-2014 is a modest, one might even say, spartan dashboard, which is also quite dimly illuminated by the standard backlight. The most radical option is its complete replacement. Choosing a different, more modern instrument panel will not be difficult, and the appearance of the interior will then change for the better, especially at night.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0ZxVmYz2WhQ

Introduction

Tuning the interior of a VAZ-2104 is a labor-intensive, but very effective modernization of a domestic vehicle, which is in many ways inferior in its characteristics and interior to similar foreign versions. In fact, for a person who is just thinking about ways to improve the properties and abilities of the VAZ-2104, there are many different ways that, as a result, will radically transform the boring car. It is worth noting that due to the relative low cost of components for the VAZ-2104, which has long been removed from the manufacturer’s tape, a motorist has the opportunity to tune almost all parts of the device for modest funds. In particular, a powerful power unit and a more refined body can be installed on a VAZ-2104 car. In addition, interior tuning can be an important modification of movable property. Let's consider the methods and methods of refining the internal space of the domestic “four”.


The VAZ 2104 interior is not distinguished by any special aesthetics, so many motorists want to improve their interior

Improving performance when repairing a VAZ 2104

A beautiful car attracts attention, but real car enthusiasts are interested not only in the outer shell - the internal “filling” is also of great importance to them. Since the “four” appeared a long time ago, it is not up to par with modern cars, but the car can always be modified

To increase the speed of the car, you should work on its suspension - with the correct suspension settings, you can achieve colossal speed characteristics. If you replace the standard struts with sports struts, the car will stay on the road much better, regardless of whether it is driving on hard or soft road surfaces. Sports suspensions are distinguished by the fact that they are equipped with double springs and can also be adjusted as needed.

Engine tuning allows you to increase its power. Motorists often perform so-called cylinder boring to increase the power of the power unit. This is done like this: the cylinder walls are simply bored to the required thickness, as a result of which the engine power increases.

You can also purchase a new crankshaft, with a large eccentricity, and replace the standard unit with it. It is imperative to select suitable connecting rods with pistons - such a repair of the VAZ 2104 will also increase the engine power, as well as its efficiency.

Often, car enthusiasts resort to so-called chip tuning, in which the engine control unit is reconfigured, that is, it is replaced with another one. As a rule, “sports” is used as a new “firmware”, which is “tailored” for a specific power unit. This method of upgrading the engine is inexpensive and takes little time - which is why it has become the most popular.

In addition, car enthusiasts often install a turbocharger with a low-resistance air filter.

When modernizing and repairing a VAZ 2104, you should also change the ignition system - the standard ignition system of the “four” has a number of disadvantages, it has long been outdated, so it is best to replace it with a contactless ignition system at the first opportunity. After such a replacement, the engine will start much faster in cold weather, the dynamics of the car will increase, the reliability of the car will increase, and the air-fuel mixture will burn more completely, and accordingly, the CO content in the exhaust will decrease.

Engine and suspension upgrades

Let's start with the machine filling. The first thing we have to do is to improve the car engine, since the car itself is weak. Temperature changes, transportation of various cargoes and uneven roads: all this does not have the best effect on the car’s engine. It, together with its parts, experiences constant loads, as a result of which it wears out. Moreover, wear occurs unevenly. To restore worn parts, machine cylinders need to be bored. If you also strengthen the piston stroke, the car will pick up speed and speed much faster.

Four directions of tuning VAZ 2104

In fact, there are most likely more than four directions, but we will consider exactly four in order to support the numerology of this model:

  1. A solid classic. In this role, the VAZ four looks really respectable. Reducing detailing, painting in an interesting but calm color, lengthening the body, installing chrome wheels - all this works for a solid image;
  2. Sport style. It must be said that the task of making a sports car out of a “country car” is extremely difficult, but many tuners are not looking for easy ways. These are the types of challenges they enjoy most. However, you will have to do a lot of work, since the angular body needs to be made streamlined;
  3. In retro style. The design of the VAZ 2104 can be redesigned in retrospect. Smooth expansion of the arches, rounding of the headlights, welding of the sills, styling inside the cabin - these are just some of the changes that can be used;
  4. Original condition. This type of tuning sets the goal of removing everything unnecessary from the car that it has acquired during its operation.

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