Tuning ZAZ: restoration and updating of “Zaporozhets”

Several decades ago, the automotive industry in the CIS countries was at a much higher level than it is today. This is due to the fact that large amounts of money were invested in the development of new technologies, and agreements were concluded with various foreign partners.

Unfortunately, the once developed industry is in decline. An example is the once quite popular brand called ZAZ. Today, in most cases, such a car is purchased for tuning. Let's take a closer look at the features of the ZAZ brand.

What should you know about the ZAZ brand?

Zaporozhye Automobile Plant is a Ukrainian enterprise that specializes in the production of passenger cars. This company has several separate divisions: IZAA and MeMZ. Like many other factories in the post-Soviet space, the one under consideration has recently provided its facilities for rent. In 2021, an attempt was made to revive the enterprise by setting up serial production of the new Vida Cargo passenger van. This car is the company's own development.

However, everyone is familiar with and appreciates this brand not for its latest developments. The plant once gained great popularity due to the appearance of budget-class passenger cars, which were highly economical and had fairly high cross-country ability.

All Zaporozhets cars could be characterized by the following characteristics:

• Rear-engine layout. Despite the fact that many manufacturers installed the engine in the front, the plant in question produced cars with rear engines. This point became the key feature why many decided to purchase a ZAZ passenger car.

• The gearbox was installed within the base, which provided some balance to the car.

• Another notable feature is the two-door body style. Before the release of the first cars from the automaker in question, mass production of cars in the body in question had not been established on the post-Soviet market.

• The engine used was a V-shaped engine with a carburetor type. One of the disadvantages of this design was considered to be air cooling, which is significantly inferior in terms of efficiency to water cooling.

• An autonomous gasoline radiator was installed to heat the interior. Of course, the thermal insulation of the cabin was organized at a low level, but this was compensated for by its small size and a fairly powerful heating system.

• The vehicles are light in weight. Due to this, the vehicle's cross-country ability was significantly increased. They were able to reduce weight not because of the use of aluminum, but because of the small size of the body. Many people choose ZAZ precisely because of its light weight, as this will make the car even more economical.

• Independent suspension for all wheels, which could also be considered an unusual proposal at that time.

• After some time, versions designed for the movement of disabled people appeared. To achieve this, a complete modernization of the controls was carried out so that you could control the car only with your hands.

• The vehicle's cross-country ability was ensured by a flat bottom. Combined with its low mass, the model jumped over impassable areas.

It should be borne in mind that at the time of ZAZ’s release this car was heavily criticized by many. First of all, criticism concerned the rear-wheel drive and the installation of the engine on the rear axle. However, we note that during this period the rear-wheel drive layout was very popular in America. They decided to place the engine at the rear because greater pressure on the drive axle ensured better tire grip on the road surface.

Thus, we can say that the Ukrainian automaker took a completely different path than the engineering organizations that already existed at that time, due to which their offer was unique.

How to increase engine power without compromising its efficiency: ZAZ-afterburner

I have been driving a ZAZ-968M for 13 years. Is it possible to improve the engine's power without significantly compromising efficiency?

The Melitopol engine MeMZ-968 (forty-horsepower), which was installed on the Zaporozhets, oddly enough, can be boosted quite well. Cross-country racers who competed in the Ukrainian Championship (and previously the USSR) in buggies of the first qualifying group increased power in the following way.

First of all, they “finished” the cylinder head - they changed the camshaft to a special sports one. To prevent the valves from hanging at high speeds, they installed two stiffer springs on them (from foreign cars or VAZ ones), and polished the intake and exhaust channels.

The piston group was modernized in the classical way. Better quality pistons of the same diameter 76 mm from the VAZ-2101 were installed. The compression ratio was increased by “planting” the heads a few millimeters lower. To do this, the mating plane of the sleeves was milled, removing up to 6 mm of metal from them. Since the V-twin engine has a lower camshaft, it was necessary to trim the valve lifters, as well as the oil drain pipes.

Why is ZAZ tuning popular in Russia?

A fairly large number of reasons can be named. To begin with, we note that the production of many models has long been discontinued, as well as spare parts for them. Why is ZAZ used for tuning? The reasons are as follows:

• Car availability. In order to hone their mechanic skills, not many people can afford to carry out work on an expensive car, as mistakes will happen, and they will cause increased costs.

• Any artist of his kind needs a place to realize his imagination. New or used cars that have been produced recently have a finished style that doesn't make much sense to change. If you are making a complete change, it is better to buy the car cheaper, since the remaining money can be spent on the required parts.

You can also encounter a situation where ZAZ tuning is carried out to restore it. In most cases, the car in question is not purchased, but rather simply given for practically nothing. Therefore, the choice falls on ZAZ.

Getting rid of shortcomings

A tuned Cossack will not become the pride of its owners if you do not worry about the shortcomings of the model in advance and exclude them. The noise and susceptibility to corrosion of this machine became the talk of the town. This is uncomfortable and has consequences:

Noise

• Slows down the driver's reactions to unusual situations on the road. It is difficult to react to what is happening and hear problems that arise in your own car.
• The comfort of the trip will be ruined. Even if a modern acoustic system is installed in the Zaporozhian cabin, the mixture of noise and music will turn out hellish, little comparable to comfort.
• Noise contributes to fatigue. It is not uncommon to fall asleep on the road, especially when driving for many hours. The noise has a lulling effect or, on the contrary, constantly keeps the driver in suspense.

Corrosion and Remediation

It will practically eat the car if you don’t pay attention to the issue. The quality of iron in former times was much better, so it will be possible to restore it.

A high-quality modification of a Zaporozhian begins with eliminating noise as a problem that has several sources: the engine as the main one. Then units, such as gearboxes, windshield wipers. The noise is transmitted to all surfaces of the car, which is why the trouble has far-reaching consequences - loose parts, rattling glass due to vibration. The problem has a simple solution, like everything ingenious: carefully tightening the fasteners and installing a noise damper - for example, an old blanket in a waterproof cover, placed behind the Cossack between the glass and the gas tank.

The next problem is corrosion.

Before applying a branded color scheme to a tuned car, it is important to carefully inspect all the surfaces of the hardware; they are, naturally, rusty - the car is not new. Therefore, in order to prevent the formation of new “saffron milk caps”, the old parts are processed, or even new ones are welded on, after first making sure that they are a non-repairable problem

You only need to paint and tune a Cossack in color in a paint booth - there is no confidence in high-quality independent work. But the service includes the application of a polymer layer, which will extend the life of the horse for another ten years.

What tuning is popular among ZAZ fans?

As previously noted, the issue of tuning is a creative process that can involve a wide variety of changes to the car. Most often, ZAZ is tuned as follows:

1. The engine is being replaced or modernized. The motors installed at the factory had low efficiency and power output. In addition, the air cooling system also does not perform well. Most often, a new motor is installed. The layout associated with the location of the engine in the rear of the car greatly complicates the task of selecting a more suitable engine and transmission.

2. Along with the engine, the clutch and transmission have to be replaced, otherwise there is no other way. When choosing a transmission, attention is paid to the fact that it must be located within the wheelbase.

3. Create a water cooling system. As previously noted, the air cooling system is not as efficient as it should be.

4. Attention should also be paid to the suspension. As a rule, it is in terrible condition, but even in good condition it does not cope well with bumps in the road. Along with the suspension, a new disc-type brake system is installed, which is also highly reliable and efficient.

5. The interior can be changed in a variety of ways: insulation is carried out, new panels and seats are installed. The center console and all the elements that are built into it are also being replaced. Interior tuning, as a rule, is classified as a separate category of work, since it involves installing various equipment, changing electrical wiring, and so on.

6. Body work involves protecting the body, as well as modifying it. This work is very extensive, and it is almost always done, since almost all old models reach the point of tuning in very poor technical condition.

We also often install new tires, as well as attractively designed rims. They can lower the suspension to reduce the ground clearance. In general, we can say that there are a large number of options for changing a ZAZ car.

Speed ​​car

This tuning of the Zaporozhets allowed it to accelerate to 100 km/h in ten seconds. The owner of this copy, while testing his work, did not yet dare to exceed the speed limit of 130 km/h. Based on theoretical calculations, this baby has enough power to overcome the threshold of 200 km/h. The owner's concerns are understandable.

You can afford to drive this car at such speed after installing racing brake systems with a booster and a tubular frame frame inside the car - like a racing car. Otherwise, such recklessness becomes unreasonably risky.

Another concern: since the engine is located at the rear, the front part of the car is lighter, which at high speed can cause inadequacy of the applied effort. And instead of turning, the car can continue moving forward. In order to avoid this effect, it is necessary to load the front trunk so that the traction of the wheels with the road is ideal at the right time.

Engine tuning: is it worth keeping the old engine?

A fairly common question is whether to modernize an old motor or install a new one? There are quite a few reasons why a new engine is installed. Among them we note the following points:

• Factory installed designs are generally outdated. It is difficult to find spare parts, consumables and everything that is required to restore it. That is why you have to make everything required yourself, which complicates the work.

• Engine power is very low, as is the efficiency indicator. Today, engine tuning in most cases involves increasing power and increasing efficiency. Even with a radical redesign of the design, it will be possible to increase the power rating only by a few tens of horsepower. When installing a new motor, the power rating can be increased several times.

• In some cases, the engine that comes from the factory is in poor condition and it is easier to install a new engine. Some problems cannot be solved. An example is damage to the cylinder block, when cracks and other defects that appear cannot be eliminated. You can also note the case when almost all structural elements have high wear.

Sidebar: Important: Experts say that it is best to replace the motor rather than try to modify the old design.

conclusions

When considering this car as a base for tuning, it should be taken into account that all its technical components are outdated and are often in poor condition. That is why there is usually a lot of work. In addition, you need to be prepared that you will have to redo almost everything, adjust the engine compartment for the new engine. The most difficulties arise when the car is being restored, since it is very difficult to find original parts in good condition. The low cost of the car determines that many people choose it to hone their locksmith and other skills.

Interior tuning: insulation

No matter how the interior is tuned, in almost all cases it involves insulation. Recommendations for carrying out this work are as follows:

• First, all elements are dismantled. The interior can be insulated only after the initial dismantling of all elements. The work can become more complicated due to the fact that many fasteners are subject to severe corrosion.

• Quite a lot of attention is paid to choosing the most suitable material. Today on sale you can find simply a huge amount of insulation: glass wool, foil sheets, vibroplasts and so on.

• Before performing work, the body must be restored. All defects, as well as corrosion, must be removed.

• Laying of the material is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. It is worth considering the point that after work there should be no joints, as they will cause noise in the cabin.

• Attention is paid to the reliability of fastening. If there are ventilation slots, they cannot be sealed. Otherwise, condensation may form, which subsequently leads to corrosion.

It takes a lot of time and money to insulate the interior. But it is worth considering that in ZAZ it is almost completely absent.

Interiors

It’s hard to imagine tuning without interior improvements, since even at the time of its release from Zaporozhets it left much to be desired. In order to increase comfort, you can resort to modern seats, a thick and comfortable steering wheel, and noise insulation.

The instrument panel can be supplied from another model or made by yourself.

Electrical wiring, as a rule, is reinstalled, thereby adapting it to the current conditions.

The door trim and side panels of the vehicle are made according to the drawings. They work on the ceiling in the same way.

In the case of seats, you can also resort to seats from other cars, but installing them will require altering the seat mounts.

If you have problems finding the steering wheel, you can also make an adapter yourself and also tighten the wiring to the signal button.

Headlight tuning: installing new optics

The headlights that are installed at the factory do not provide the required level of road illumination. In addition, ZAZ rarely arrives in good condition, and it is the optics that suffer first. In this case, tuning headlights becomes significantly more complicated:

• Finding suitable headlights is quite difficult, since similar cars have not been produced for a long time. You will have to select suitable models based on the size of the holes and the structure itself.

• To install new optics, you will have to change the holes in the body. The work seems simple only at first glance. This is due to the fact that a small mistake made regarding the size will lead to significant problems.

• The cost of new headlights is quite high. Of course, it is possible to install a structure that was purchased after dismantling other cars.

Which design should I choose for installation? Today it only makes sense to use diode light sources. They have high efficiency, long service life, high light emission rates with low energy consumption. In addition, we note that diode light sources are less susceptible to environmental influences, for example, high humidity, which significantly increases the service life of the structure.

Update

The exterior design of the new car has become more modern, the round 968A taillights have been abolished, and in their place there are futuristic rectangular ones, consisting of a brake light, turn signal and parking lamp. The air intake on the engine compartment lid has given way to special ventilation slots. The same “gills” appeared on the plane of the rear wings in place of the famous “ears” of the Zaporozhets. Thus, the entire rear of the car became smooth, without any protrusions. The elegant exterior in the new solution significantly increased the reputation of the ZAZ-968 M, and at the same time sales increased.

The front end of the modernized version has not been radically updated, but it has added elegance. Rectangular turn signals are located on the front panel, slightly moving away from the round headlights towards the center. Between the turn signals there is a black stripe with the car emblem. The headlights received stylish matte black rims. The optics remained the same, but the overall appearance was different.

The rather primitive chrome bumpers of the 968A model were replaced with combined ones. The metal base of the new bumper is complemented by a black plastic decorative strip, and elegant trims appear at the ends.

The update process did not end with the modernization of external parameters. Changes also affected the interior: the instrument panel changed the angle of inclination and became much better readable, the seats rose to a different level of ergonomics, and the backrests were extended. The interior space of the car as a whole has improved noticeably. The interior of the ZAZ-968 has one feature: the footwell for the passenger sitting in front is very deep. You can easily stretch your legs, and if you move the seat further back, you get a comfortable position, ideal for long journeys. The driver behind the wheel is in approximately the same comfortable conditions: the pedals are far away, the legs are freely extended, and there is no feeling of fatigue.

Dashboard tuning: modern lighting

If you are happy with the way the old dashboard design works, as well as its design, you can simply update it and add good lighting. To do this, it is enough to disassemble the structure, print a new scale, slightly update the hands or replace them with new ones, install a light source and connect it to the electrical wiring. Among the features of the work, we note the following points:

• You can make a scale and print it yourself, for which you need a computer with a graphics editor and a color printer. In addition, you can download ready-made options and change them slightly to fit the dimensions of a specific design.

• It is also recommended to choose diodes as light sources, which can be painted in a wide variety of colors. This light source is compact in size, easy to use and lasts a very long time.

• In order to achieve the effect of highlighting the main information in the dark, you should stick paper on the arrows that can return light. In addition, you can purchase paint with phosphorus components and paint the hands.

It is possible to completely replace the instrument panel, but for some ZAZ models it will be difficult to choose a suitable design. In other words, they will also have to be changed, despite the high cost. Therefore, in some cases it is better to modernize an already installed structure.

Steering wheel

Another weak point of the Zaporozhets is the steering. Owners complained about constantly falling out pins on steering rods half a century ago. Some found a way out using steering units from Moskvich - 412. Yes, this is a way out, but the “donor” was also not distinguished by its steering perfection. Considering the speed at which the wheels of the tuned “humpback” can rotate, the control must meet the highest requirements.

To do this, it is necessary to undertake another significant modification - replace the steering system, including the gearbox, with a newer one. As an option - from Zhiguli. Given the modest size of the machine, many parts of the mechanism (a trapezoid, for example) will have to be made individually.

Suspension tuning: how to ensure a smooth ride

When fully tuning a ZAZ car, attention should be paid to the suspension and chassis. Among the features of their tuning, we note the following points:

1. The suspension determines not only the comfort in the cabin, but also the stability of the vehicle on the road. That is why suspension tuning should be treated with great responsibility.

2. Installed chassis elements have not been on sale for a long time. That is why the entire structure needs to be completely redone, or parts from other manufacturers from the post-Soviet space will have to be modified.

3. If further tuning involves installing wheels of larger diameter, then you need to think about installing a hydraulic booster. Otherwise, driving a car will not bring proper pleasure.

4. When modernizing the chassis, attention is paid to replacing drum brakes with disc brakes. This recommendation is due to the fact that the disk design is simpler and much more reliable, as well as more efficient.

5. It is worth considering that with a significant increase in the size of the installed wheels, the radius of the brake system discs must also increase. Installing new calipers also increases the volume of brake fluid that is required to ensure efficient operation of the entire system.

Unfortunately, if we consider old cars, a smooth ride can only be ensured by completely replacing the suspension with modern versions. Due to this, the size of the required budget for car tuning significantly increases.

Chassis

A tuned car should not only accelerate quickly, but also brake well. When modifying the brake system, it is better to switch to VAZ components - tuning spare parts for the VAZ 08-12 are relatively inexpensive, and their range is quite wide. The rear brakes can be easily converted into disc brakes, and the front wheels can be equipped with castors and drift wishbones can be installed for greater ejection.

Lowering the suspension and increasing its stiffness will complete the “pocket rocket” image. To do this you need:

• install stiffer trimmed springs;
• trim the posts;
• install rubber suspension breakdown fuses;
• You can use pneumatic cylinders to adjust the rigidity.

Body kit tuning: what can be done from a Zaporozhets

One way or another, body work cannot be avoided if the ZAZ is improved. That is why many are considering the possibility of installing a body kit or completely modifying this car. What can ZAZ do if desired? Considering common examples of tuning, we note the following:

• Conventional tuning involves installing a body kit, large wheels, tinting windows and other work. Everyone is modifying the car according to their imagination. The result is a unique model with an attractive exterior. Very often, large radius wheels with low-profile tires are installed. It is worth considering that the installation of large wheels can only be carried out when the wheel arches are widened and the clearance is increased. As for the difficulty of turning the wheels, installing alloy wheels does not lead to significant weighting of the steering wheel.

• You can find convertible versions. The fact that the car was originally produced with only two doors greatly simplifies the task. However, it should be taken into account that the rear location of the engine in this case is unacceptable, due to which it will have to be moved forward. Due to this, the work becomes significantly more complicated.

• You can often find options that imitate a sports car or bugs. Considering the light weight of the body, the result is a very fast car with great cross-country ability. To get a buggy, you will have to completely redo the suspension, strengthen the body, and install new optics. A small base and weight make the car more passable. In addition, in order to make the interior more comfortable, it is insulated. We must not forget that off-road tires are installed on such a vehicle. To do this you will have to widen the wheel arches.

• On the Internet you can find options when a ZAZ is changed so that it resembles a Porsche or Mini Cooper. The initial similarities are insignificant, but with a complete redesign of the car, similar results can be achieved. There are no ready-made kits for modifying a car like this. That is why all the parts and elements of the body kit will have to be made by hand.

There are practically no body kits designed for this car on sale. That is why almost all exterior elements will have to be made independently.

Communities › Zaporozhets Club › Blog › Increasing the power of the MeMZ-968 engine.

Gentlemen, technical question. Anyone who is at least a little wondering about increasing the power of their native 40, first of all runs for a TAZocarb and an adapter for it, then either orders new ones or sharpens their liners for a 79mm piston, after which they sag the heads by 2mm. Now some have gone further and bored out the cartridges to 82mm. Has anyone tried (or at least figured out) how to achieve an increase in power in a different way, not by increasing volume (because the supply of walls does not last forever), but in other ways? The only one who did anything interesting was Borislav, who shoveled the heads, putting new valves there, etc. and so on. There are also sports camshafts with OKB Dynamics for 6,000 rubles, they seem to be made according to buggies from the USSR. The point is that we send them our distributor and they resharpen it. True, I asked them to send me the values ​​to which they would sharpen it for me. but they remained silent. There was also a topic about the “UAZ knee”. But I can’t believe it, because the UAZ knee is the Volgov knee. Anyone who has seen the MeMZ block from the inside will understand. And in general, I can’t imagine how to drag a knee from one structural engine to another. Something like this . In a word, comrades, share your thoughts. PS Gentlemen, I kindly ask you not to start demagoguery about “put in a pelvis mover and don’t worry.” With such sentiments, it is better to immediately leave the topic. The point is that it is interesting to improve the performance of the original engine.

Which ZAZ brand models are tuned more often?

During its active production activities, the ZAZ plant produced a relatively small number of models. At the same time, some today are practically not found both for sale and on the roads. An example is the ZAZ-965, which was produced from 1960 to 1969.

As a rule, the following models are subject to tuning:

1. ZAZ-966. This model has been produced since 1961, prototypes appeared in the fall. The production of this model dragged on for many years, and serious problems arose. This is due to poor funding and insufficient experience. When creating the exterior, various elements of the models produced in those years were used. Sales of this version ended in 1972. On this model, a 30 and 40-horsepower engine with a volume of 1.2 liters was installed.

2. ZAZ-968 began production in 1972 and was completed in 1974. Note that this model does not differ significantly from the previous one. The modernization affected the installation of several different engines.

3. ZAZ-968A was presented with an updated appearance. In addition, design aspects have been changed and the safety of the driver and passengers has been increased. The changes affected the installation of dual-circuit brakes, as well as seat belts and a “soft” instrument panel. The changes made were almost completely carried over to the latest generation.

4. ZAZ-968M was produced from 1979 to 1994. It is worth noting that this model was the last and ended the era of the “Cossacks”. This version was equipped with a variety of engines, the power of which is 28, 41, 45 and 50 horsepower. This model has many distinctive features in comparison with the previous one. An example is the fact that they began to use fewer chrome elements when finishing the exterior and interior. In addition, the “Ears” disappeared.

After the completion of production of this car, they began to produce a completely different car - the ZAZ-1102 Tavria. These models are very popular, but do not differ significantly from each other. An example is that earlier versions have air intakes on the sides of the rear of the body. In addition, it is worth considering that there were also export versions that were intended for left-hand traffic.

Through thorns

Considering that you plan to carry out all the work yourself, some points may be unnecessary for you. The most time-consuming and complex operation is changing the motor. Since you bought the ZAZ-965 not for daily trips to work, but more for the soul, you yourself need to decide how complex the tuning of the “Zaporozhets” will be.

Sitting behind the wheel of a Soviet small car, which has become a legend of a bygone era, you will simply be spoiled by the attention of everyone around you: both motorists and pedestrians. Be prepared for this by spending hours and days in your garage.

In which studios can tuning be done?

It is quite difficult to do tuning with your own hands. This is due to the fact that you need to have the proper amount of free time to complete the work. The way out of this situation can be called contacting the studio. Let's name the most common:

1. TOPCAR is a studio that deals with premium tuning. It is difficult to say whether this company will be involved in the restoration of such rarities. But the company has good reviews because it takes its work seriously. The company operates officially, all the details are there. In addition, on the site you can view the results of the work carried out, including mainly examples of modern models.

2. “Tuning Town” is a company that was founded in 2006. Initially, management hired professionals in this field, after which more than 1,000 models of domestic and foreign manufacturers were changed. This company is engaged in the professional sale of fabrics from various European manufacturers. In the portfolio you can find examples of ZAZ tuning, which allows you to determine the quality of the final result. Among the huge number of services provided, one can note the restoration of the interior, the creation of hatches, the installation of additional sound equipment, and external body kit. The company has a lot of advantages: tuning within a minimum period, work is performed in special boxes, there is constant video surveillance in the box area, and the specialists have extensive experience. You can contact a company representative using the feedback form.

Today, many studios undertake the modernization of exclusively modern models, since it is easier to do. After all, modern modernization only involves the purchase of ready-made kits from well-known manufacturers and their installation.

ZAZ 968 2.0 v-6 tiptronic › Logbook › Or you can even do that!

Without exception, all modern “designer” modifications of Zaporozhets boil down to disfiguring the body with an angle grinder and attaching plastic bumpers from other cars. Of course, there can be no talk of any beauty or harmony there. But in Brazil, back in the late seventies, they made this kind of plastic beauty using the aggregate base of a regular fv-beetle. As you can see, there is not a single line from the beetle. And the result was something a little Italian, a little German and very balanced. A stylish small coupe without unnecessary show-off. It doesn’t look like antediluvian squalor even now, forty years later! I would love to ride this! There is nothing particularly difficult in making such a machine. And similar things were done from Zapor in our country at that time. But I wouldn’t even want to take a ride on any of these homemade products. And I will never want to, most likely. Because to create a truly beautiful car, simple desire and direct hands are not enough. You also need talent. But such talented and handy people apparently bypass Zaporozhets.

In which stores can you buy parts for ZAZ tuning?

Another fairly common question is where exactly to purchase the required parts. You can hardly find original parts for this car. As for tuning kits, you can consider the following proposals:

1. Spare part – a site that specializes in the sale of various parts. It is there that you can find the various parts and body kits you need. The store has a ton of features that you can use to quickly find the parts you need.

2. Dekoravto is another service that can be used to select parts. Among the features, we note the quick selection of parts due to classification and a fairly large number of search filters. It is worth considering that when completely reworking a car, you can use other kits that are not intended for this model.

Experts' opinion

Dmitriy. There is no extra money to buy yourself a convertible, but in the summer there are times when you really want to go for a spin. I decided to make a convertible with my own hands to save money. I chose ZAZ: low-slung, light body, two doors, accessibility. There was a lot of work. For this reason, it should be taken into account that a lot of time will be required.

Vitaly.

I've always loved watching rally racing. Not many people can buy a buggy for themselves, and I’m not one of them. That is why I decided to make a buggy with my own hands and chose the ZAZ-966 for this. This model is suitable for this due to its short wheelbase and high ground clearance. There was a lot of work, and almost everything had to be removed. There was a lot of body work.

Grigory.

I have been engaged in professional car tuning for a long period. Very often we came across cars of domestic origin or from the post-Soviet space. I note that from ZAZ cars you can get almost any class of vehicle: racing, SUV, convertible, and so on. When doing tuning you should always be prepared for additional costs.

Body

Taking into account its age, the condition of the body requires not just cosmetic repairs, but a complete restoration.
Considering that we plan to do the tuning of the Cossack with our own hands, we will try to avoid drastic metamorphoses of the body. This will allow us to preserve the pristine charm of the model.

Particular attention should be paid to the underbody and the attachment points of the main components and assemblies. Most likely, there will be a need to carry out not only strengthening of these places, but also partial modification

It is planned to install a more powerful power unit from the VAZ 2109. Therefore, the engine mounting system will be completely changed. The wheel arches should also be widened - with subsequent changes to the brake system, mounts for the wheels of the VAZ model will be installed.

Summing up the ZAZ tuning

All of the above information determines that many ZAZ models do not meet modern standards. Rear engine placement is extremely rare today, only on sports cars. In addition, many models stopped being produced several decades ago. Therefore, in almost all cases it is necessary to completely recycle the vehicle. The high availability of ZAZ is the reason why many people buy Zaporozhets for tuning.

A little history

First, some historical information. The ZAZ-968 model came off the assembly line in 1972, and its production continued until 1994. During this time, the car was modernized more than once. The most common modification was the 968M.

The technical characteristics of the ZAZ-968M engine were mediocre. The engine itself is a 4-cylinder, V-shaped, air-cooled. The power of the ZAZ-968 engine varied in the range from 30 to 50 hp. s., and it depended on the year of production of the car and its modification. The ZAZ engine was located in the rear of the car. In general, “Zaporozhets” is quite an interesting car.