Do-it-yourself modification of the Volga 31105 car. Tuning the GAZ interior: work plan

Before moving on to the stages of tuning the GAZ 31105, we note that all Volgas of the thirty-first series represent a fertile field for the application of the talents and skills of those who are familiar with technical improvement. What adds piquancy to the situation is that Volga 31105 is literally one step away from retro status. If you properly tune the Volga 31105, then increased public attention to it will be guaranteed.

This is what tuning Volga 31105 looks like

And now let’s move on directly to what can be changed in the car to make it truly ideal.

Engine

For example, sandblast the cylinder head inlet and outlet channels. In this case, you will improve and make the filling of the cylinders with the fuel mixture more correct.

But you shouldn't stop there. Also replace the valve springs. Install more stringent ones. Experts recommend using springs from the VAZ 2108.

Now let's move on to the valves themselves. You need to do the following:

• reduce their weight;
• process the chamfers.

The effect will be like this:

• the valve timing will expand;
• filling and ventilation of the cylinders will improve.

If you want to achieve maximum effect, you need to replace:

• pistons forged sports type;
• camshaft analogue with high valve lift;
• fuel pump is a foreign option.

Salon

1. First of all, we do sound insulation. Other changes are at your discretion. Below we will offer the most common options.
2. The use of LED lighting on the instrument panel and new shades on the interior lighting elements.
3. Decorative inserts imitating wood installed on the front panel and doors look good.
4. Purchase accessories in a set, which will include trims for the dashboard, steering wheel, gear lever, etc.

Lighting and electrical

You can put things in order in the electrical system, or more precisely, in the wires lying haphazardly on the sides of the body. They are pulled together into bundles and enclosed in corrugated tubes. It is imperative to upgrade the trunk lighting system. The standard system, made with two bulbs, only works when the lights are on, which is not always convenient. The new lighting can be made using simple LED strips that are glued under the trunk shelf and on the sides, in the cavity of the wings on top. This way they will not be visible, but they will provide a lot of light. The electrical connection should be made through a limit switch that closes to ground when the trunk lid is lifted, and from a permanent “plus”, which will have to be pulled either from the interior lamp or from the fuse box.

Suspension

What functions does the suspension perform? She takes all the blows and absorbs them. At the same time, it must ensure constant contact of the wheels with the road, no matter what the speed.

A fairly popular Russian middle-class car can be called the GAZ 31105, which has been produced for several decades under the name “Volga”. The model in question was assembled at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 2003 to 2010, during which time several upgrades were carried out. Recently, people have begun to pay more and more attention to this car due to the fact that you can find versions in fairly good technical condition, which are later taken as the basis for tuning. Let's take a closer look at all the features of this car.

The Last of the Mohicans

OUTSIDE The Volga of the 2007 model year has not changed much: from the front it can be distinguished by a radiator grille with large horizontal slots instead of vertical ones, and from the rear by a slightly different shape of the lights.

The technical part remained the same: the engines (American Chrysler and Russian ZMZ-40621), transmission and chassis migrated from the pre-restyling Volga without changes. Therefore, you can’t expect any new driving sensations from the modernized GAZ-31105. At low speeds, the car stands confidently on a straight line, but as soon as you add gas, the Volga begins to shy away to the side when passing any unevenness, requiring constant steering. And in turns it tilts so much that the colleague sitting next to me grabbed the handle on the ceiling every time and, it seemed to me, even closed his eyes. Moreover, any maneuver is accompanied by an annoying sound: when you turn the steering wheel, the power steering, as before the modernization, puffs and groans, like a ghost in a bad horror film.

Whatever engine is under the hood - Chrysler or Russian - the differences in dynamics are barely noticeable. True, our “406” accelerates the car better from low revs. A Volga with an American engine in such modes begins to convulse and may stall.

Apparently, the current modernization is the last in the long history of Volga. The possibilities for improving the car are almost exhausted. The only impregnable bastion remained the archaic rear suspension. Although an experimental car with springs instead of leaf springs was demonstrated several years ago, this Volga did not go into production. And it’s unlikely to work. For this, additional funds are needed, and now all the efforts of the car plant are being devoted to launching next year the production of a completely new licensed car for GAZ.

• gas
• Russian auto industry

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What are the features of the “105” version of the GAZ-3110?

First, let's look at the main features of this car:

• The front wheel suspension is pinless; a rear wheel suspension stabilizer is installed.
• In addition, the gearbox was improved in comparison with the previous version of the Volga.
• The appearance of the car has also changed significantly. For example, new teardrop-shaped headlights were installed, and the front fenders, grille, hood and bumper were replaced.
• From 2005 to 2007, they produced a “business version” of the car, which was distinguished by an extended wheelbase and doors, as well as higher quality finishing. However, they were created exclusively to order, so it is quite difficult to find a business version of the Volga.
• In 2007, changes were made, which primarily affected the interior trim. An interesting fact is that German designers participated in the development of the new interior. In addition, improvements included a height-adjustable steering column, a new instrument panel, a window control panel, a joystick for determining the position of the side mirrors, new lights and a radiator grille.

The above points determine that you can find a variety of Volga configuration options on sale. The engines have been modernized to Euro-3 standard since 2008. The most common power unit is the ZMZ-40525, with a displacement of 2.5 liters and a power of 150 horsepower. An electronic pedal was installed to regulate the fuel supply.

Brake upgrade

Another way to tune the GAZ 3110 is to improve the functioning of the brakes. It must be emphasized that all cars of foreign manufacturers, which are equipped with power units with a displacement of 2.0 liters and above, use disc brakes at the rear. But in the domestic Volga 31105, in the engine compartment of which a 2.4-liter engine is installed, engineers decided to use drum brakes. In this regard, tuning 31105 in this case consists of installing disc brakes on the rear axle.

After implementing the ideas discussed in our article, you can also equip the Volga with a modern muffler with a beautiful chrome-plated pipe. It is worth noting that such a muffler has a fairly high resistance to corrosion and also has a positive effect on the appearance of the car.

Now you know all the intricacies of tuning GAZ 31105 (3110).

When the topic of tuning cars of the Russian automobile industry is touched upon, various options for altering Zhiguli cars come to mind, from light cosmetic interventions to radical alterations. However, do not forget about the Volga; tuning the GAZ 31105 is also very popular. Of course, the car itself has a rather interesting design and a comfortable interior, but there will still be places where you need to put your hand to it. We will write in more detail about possible cosmetic and technical modifications below.

Installing a Chrysler engine on a Volga

When choosing the most suitable version of the car for tuning, you should pay attention to the fact that since 2006, GAZ began to be equipped with a DOHC 2.4 L engine, which was supplied from Mexico. Its power is 150 horsepower. However, the engineer had to adapt the engine to the Volga, which led to a reduction in power to 137 horsepower. Other car characteristics:

1 Maximum speed 178 km/h.

2 Acceleration to the first 100 km/h mark occurs in 11 seconds.

In order to be able to install this engine on the car in question, the mounting points were changed, the front suspension beam had to be lowered by 17 mm, part of the stiffener was removed, and the gearbox was redesigned, changing the gear ratios. A new fuel pump and exhaust system had to be installed for the Chrysler engine.

All of the above information should be taken into account in order to select the most suitable model. For example, some prefer to modify domestic engines, others modify the Chrysler engine and its fuel and exhaust system. Next, let's look at the features of the tuning in more detail.

Removing the side windows

1. In order to remove the front side window of the car, you will need to disassemble the door card, as well as remove the plastic trim.
2. Wrap a flat-head screwdriver with electrical tape and, after removing the fasteners, remove the plastic decorative strips from the door posts.
3. Now you can remove the glass through the vacated opening.

Very often, when tinting a GAZ-31105 car, the question arises of how to remove the right and left windows. This work is not false and is completely doable without going to a service station. The only tool needed is a screwdriver. To do this you will need to perform several steps:

• remove the door card;
• Unscrew the top screw that holds the side roll-down window post;
• lower the glass all the way;
• pull off the sealing rubber with a screwdriver and unscrew the bottom screw securing the stand;

• by pulling the upper part of the seal, remove the top of the rack from its position. Having tilted the stand approximately 80 degrees, pull it out of the opening;
• Now move the glass of the side window forward and remove it from the window opening.

Tuning the GAZ interior: work plan

A distinctive feature of all cars that were produced under the name “Volga” is their spacious interior. Several people can comfortably sit here. However, this is only one advantage of the car; otherwise, in terms of comfort, it is significantly inferior to others.

You can do interior tuning yourself, for which you need to have a standard set of tools, an angle grinder or cutter, welding, as well as materials for working with insulating materials. You will also need a sense of taste, which is often sorely lacking. The most common jobs include:

• Replacing seats. Original armchairs and sofas do not have the same comfort and were inferior to their foreign counterparts even at the time of release. Therefore, replacing seats is one of the ways to achieve increased comfort in a car.
• The next problem with almost all domestic cars is poor insulation. It is several times inferior to that found in many foreign cars. Therefore, even sitting in comfortable new chairs, you can get tired of the constant hum.
• Change of finish. The quality of the materials used in finishing the Volga is quite high, but the cars have survived to this day in a very poor technical condition. Therefore, upholstery replacement is almost always carried out.
• LED lights for illuminating control elements or simply certain parts of the interior can be called a modern trend. All modern cars have lighting, which creates an unusual effect in the cabin. It can also be achieved by using diodes at the time of tuning the interior.
• Replacement of handles and controls is carried out depending on their condition. For example, the steering wheel may be worn out or simply uncomfortable. Instead of the standard one, you can choose something else.
• The instrument panel also leaves much to be desired.

As a rule, tuning the interior does not cause many problems, but you should have a sense of style and proportion. In order to reduce the likelihood that the end result will not justify the invested money and effort, you should use a plan for tuning the interior that has already been developed by professional designers.

Appearance

A presentable car, which is the Volga-31105, practically does not need external changes, unless we are talking about a sports modification. Here's how you can emphasize the status of a car:

• replace the optics, but not in the narrow Japanese manner;
• replace front and rear bumpers;
• install cast spoked wheels;
• install low-profile tires;
• replace the radiator grille.

It is quite obvious that you cannot install a wing, sports hood and stickers when using the classic style.

Volga 31105 body tuning option

Car enthusiasts often use the style of Chrysler cars, emphasizing the internal similarities as well as the external ones. This is a complex process that requires certain skills and abilities. In addition, you will have to work hard to get the bumper or radiator grill into place. Doing it yourself or going to a service station is the individual choice of any motorist. What matters most is the end result.

Replacing standard seats with new ones

Let's start our review of possible changes to the interior of the car in question by replacing the original seats. Many Volga owners say that the driver's seat is low and has poor visibility. This point is due to the fact that the latest versions of the model have a lower ground clearance, that is, the car is slightly squatted. This was not taken into account when creating the seats.

Replacing seats should not pose any significant problems. This is due to the fact that on sale you can find many seats designed for this car. Preference should be given to leather options, which should last quite a long time. The only drawback of such tuning is that you will have to pay a fairly large amount for new seats.

Comprehensive tuning of Volga 31105 - complete transformation

Before moving on to the stages of tuning the GAZ 31105, we note that all Volgas of the thirty-first series represent a fertile field for the application of the talents and skills of those who are familiar with technical improvement.
What adds piquancy to the situation is that Volga 31105 is literally one step away from retro status. If you properly tune the Volga 31105, then increased public attention to it will be guaranteed. This is what tuning Volga 31105 looks like

And now let’s move on directly to what can be changed in the car to make it truly ideal.

Interior insulation: sequence of work carried out

Almost always, when tuning the interior of a domestic car, the interior is insulated. This is due to the fact that the automaker did not do this itself; it is very difficult to stay in the car for a long time while driving. The main recommendations for performing the work in question are the following:

1 The first step of soundproofing work is to cover the entire body with a special material. To do this, you can use vibroplast or the already familiar glass wool. The front of the car contains the engine and transmission, which cause a lot of noise and vibration. Therefore, special attention should be paid to insulating the front part.

2 The second step is represented by insulating the doors. First, you need to bring the structure to a state where the door fits tightly to the body. Any play will lead to noise, and subsequently the structure will quickly wear out and cause many problems.

3 The third step in insulating the interior is to eliminate its noise. The domestic assembly is famous for the fact that an incomprehensible sound of crackling, rattling or crickets constantly appears. Finding the cause of the problem on your own will take a lot of time, but the result is worth it.

Important! With high-quality insulation of the interior, the comfort of movement increases almost significantly. Therefore, we advise you to use several insulating materials and also pay a lot of attention to this work.

The use of natural wood when decorating a car interior can be called almost a classic. This material looks expensive, combined with various shades. Recently, quite often a situation has arisen when interior decoration is carried out by using ready-made kits. It is quite difficult to carry out sheathing and replacement of panels on your own. The distributed kits include the following pads:

1 Doors that are secured with latches. In order to attach the panel to the door, you do not need to glue it or use other special fastening materials. If the dimensions of the panel are the same, there are fasteners on it and they are properly located, then the work is greatly simplified.

2 Steering wheels are used as a cover. Some designs, once put on, are practically indistinguishable from the finishing material. If desired, you can change the steering wheel itself, for which you will have to adjust the selected version to the installed steering column.

3 A cover for the gearshift lever can significantly change the interior design.

4 Separate panels for the torpedo.

However, you still can’t do without tight fitting. If a set of panels will be used, then first select it, and then the finishing material for covering the interior.

Acceptable breakdowns, troubleshooting

The front suspension device is a complex design. If knocking or extraneous noise occurs, its condition should be checked and diagnosed to prevent unexpected breakdowns.

The problem is noise and knocking from the bottom of the car while driving

Causes and solution to the problem:

• shock absorber failure. The GAZ-31105 suspension uses a collapsible shock absorber, so it can be replaced or repaired;
• deterioration of rubber seals used to connect some elements, as a result of which periodic knocking will be heard in the trunk area. Worn rubber bands need to be replaced.

Helpful advice! The price of these rubber elements is low. Therefore, it is recommended to buy the entire set of pillows and replace them completely.

• deterioration of the hinge of the levers - replace them with new ones;
• the ball joint is worn out (the stabilizer strut joint is broken). Replacement of racks along with hinges is required;
• wear of the ball joints of the lever - replacement of the joints;
• large gap in wheel bearings - gap adjustment, bearing replacement;
• sifting, broken spring arc - replacing the old spring with a new one.

Source

The use of diodes for interior decoration

The standard light bulbs that were used in the production of GAZ have long been outdated. They were replaced by diodes. This light source has the following advantages:

• The diodes are small in size, which allows them to be installed in various places and hidden in panels to create interesting effects.
• Despite its small size, the design has a high light emission rate.
• LEDs do not respond to high humidity or vibration. Therefore, the service life is significantly longer than that of conventional light sources.
• Diodes are quite easy to install and do not consume a large amount of energy.
• On sale you can find diodes of various colors. For example, if you need to create a blue backlight, you can use diodes of the corresponding color.

What can diodes be used for in interior decoration? Typically they are used for:

• Illumination of the glove compartment and interior space.
• Illumination of the central dashboard from below.
• Designations of the main controls when driving at night
• Create a stop that is located on the rear window.
• Speaker lights.

In general, you can experiment with lighting in different ways. This is due to the fact that by creating only one central connection cable, you can branch it to power a different number of light sources. Considering the low cost of diodes, we can say that all important elements of a car’s interior can be illuminated in this way.

Changing the car dashboard

The central instrument panel also causes a lot of criticism. The original design is quite simple; when driving at night, problems may arise with reading the basic information. There are two main methods for changing the dashboard:

1 Improvement of what is already established.

2 Installation of a new dashboard.

You can find quite a lot of dashboards on sale that you can purchase and install on your car. The only drawback of such an offer is the high cost, as well as the lack of a large selection. You can improve an already installed structure with your own hands. To do this, perform the following work:

• The scale is being replaced. If you are not satisfied with the design of the instrument panel, you can simply change it. To do this, you can purchase a ready-made sticker or you can create it yourself and then print it on a color printer. Changing the design is quite simple: the structure is disassembled, the image is pasted and everything is put back together
• You can install new lighting, which will significantly change the style of the instrument panel when driving at night. To do this, it is enough to replace standard light bulbs with diodes, for example, blue. In addition, you can increase the number of light sources in order to increase the readability of information at night.

The instrument panel is an important element of the interior of every car, as it displays basic information: speed, revolutions, amount of fuel, coolant temperature, oil pressure. Therefore, all modifications must be carried out in such a way that all information is clearly readable.

Tuning an installed GAZ engine

Don’t think that only the features of a car’s interior determine its comfort while driving. A poorly running engine can create quite a few problems. As was previously the case, they installed both an engine of domestic origin and one from Chrysler. Both versions have a fairly good power rating, but all complete tuning involves replacing this element of the car. There are the following methods of engine tuning:

1 In order for the car to compete on the roads with foreign cars of recent years, it will still be necessary to install a new engine, the power of which is about 200 horsepower. At the same time, problems with choosing the most suitable engine should not arise, since there is quite a lot of space under the hood of the Volga. However, do not think that the work will be easy. Dismantling, as a rule, can be done yourself, but the rest of the work can only be done by professionals. This is due to the fact that the mount may not match, the location of some elements may interfere with the installation of the engine. Also, the new engine must be combined with other elements, for example, the fuel system.

2 A popular tuning method today is tuning the ECU. It can be carried out in a special center. The essence of this method is that the most suitable settings for the operation of the fuel system are established. The condition for carrying out such work is the good condition of the engine. Also, such work should not have been carried out beforehand. The manufacturer produces a car with certain on-board computer settings; as a rule, they are “gentle”, that is, they do not allow the use of all engine capabilities. Using a computer, you can set other settings, for example, to increase power or reduce fuel consumption. It is not recommended to adjust the ECU yourself, as incorrect settings can cause rapid engine wear.

3 It is possible to improve or replace individual elements of the fuel system. An example is various filters, exhaust or fuel systems. Many people decide to carry out such modifications due to the fact that all the work can be done independently with minimal financial costs.

Another common question is which of the two engines installed on the Volga is better. In general they are similar, but there are still a few differences:

• The Chrysler engine has more power and better dynamic characteristics.
• Like many other foreign engines, this one is intended exclusively for high-quality fuel. Therefore, you won’t be able to save money by purchasing low-octane fuel.
• The engine, which was produced in Russia, is less demanding, but at the same time it brought much more problems due to the constant occurrence of malfunctions.

If modifications are carried out, then Chrysler will cost much more, but its characteristics develop over a wide range.

Malfunctions

The mileage of a Volga car with a Chrysler engine before major repairs is at least 200 thousand km, and when operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, it can reach 350 thousand km. During operation, minor malfunctions may appear, which are recommended to be corrected promptly.

Experts' opinion

Igor.

In my opinion, of all the cars that were produced in Russia, it is the GAZ 31105 that should be highlighted. This version of the Volga turned out to be of truly high quality and with quite attractive driving characteristics. If necessary, you can carry out tuning, and this car will catch up with many foreign cars in its qualities.

Vitaly.

I independently tuned the GAZ 31105. I changed the chassis, installed a new engine, completely threw out the old interior and installed a new one. The result is a spacious car that is comfortable and reliable. The original car is also not bad, but domestic automakers, as always, lack the technology to create competitive models. And there is no need to refer to the fact that the goal is to make budget, people's cars - no one has yet seen expensive and high-quality ones.

Chassis

The chassis can also be upgraded. The shock absorbers are replaced with gas-filled ones, and the springs are installed in two sections. As a result, the steering will be more responsive and you won't lose contact with the road even at high speeds.

One of the disadvantages of this car is the drum brakes. They cannot provide a short braking distance for such a heavy beast.

By replacing them with disc ones, you will not only improve handling, but also save your life by braking sharply if necessary.

Above is only the most popular tuning GAZ 31105, which is quite easy to do. After all the work is completed, the car will be transformed for the better, both externally and in terms of comfort, handling and responsiveness. But with a little imagination, you can go much further, changing the car beyond recognition. But in everything you need to know when to stop, otherwise the car will not cause admiring glances, but the ridicule of passers-by.