Tuning Chevrolet Niva, what can be done? Is it worth tuning?

Chevy Niva engine tuning - the beginning of all beginnings

Despite the fact that the vast majority of garage craftsmen rush to tune their Nivas, installing massive body kits and spoilers on them, resorting to 3D tuning and online tuning, the truth is that tuning needs to start with the power unit.
Fortunately, the engine in these cars is tuned quite often and the tuning masters have gained extensive experience in upgrading standard 80-horsepower engines. Specialists are achieving a significant increase in power and torque by replacing factory pistons and camshafts, modifying the gas distribution mechanism coupled with the valve system, installing more balanced and lighter flywheels, and high-capacity exhaust systems.

External tuning

This is the most popular type of tuning, regardless of whether you have a Chevrolet Niva or some kind of Pajero Sport.

By changing the appearance, you can easily and sometimes relatively inexpensively distinguish your standard Niva from the gray, monotonous stream of cars.

I will give an example of only the most popular and possible modifications. If you have anything to add to this list, write your options in the comments. Maybe I'm really missing something important.

Installation of power kit

External tuning of a Chevrolet Niva involves installing a power body kit, without which it is generally better not to go off-road. Its preparation will not take too much time and effort, especially if the materials and tools are already ready.

So, briefly about what needs to be done:

Replacing the standard Niva front bumper with a power one. A good option would be a bumper with an integrated winch.
Replacing the standard rear bumper with a power one.
Setting power thresholds.

All these changes are made in order to protect the car body from damage while overcoming obstacles and, in principle, while driving off-road, since they are inevitable.

External tuning – functionality and aesthetics

Any vehicle that is used in or near off-road conditions requires the installation of several functional elements and external accessories. Perhaps the most important thing is to install a bumper with a winch - if you get stuck, the winch will be very useful. The functionality of this element is undeniable.

Durable steel, three millimeters thick, which is integral with the engine protection, will ensure the safety of the body in extreme road conditions. Additional headlights recessed into the bumper are usually equipped with fog filters. Inside such a bumper, there will also be a perfect place for a winch and towing loops.

When choosing a winch model, you should prefer devices with polymer ropes. Steel cables are extremely inconvenient - they get pinched among the turns, although they are stronger.

Some Chevy Niva owners strive to give the car an aggressive look by decorating it with metal arches. But it is worth remembering that such arches, attached to the front, back or side, always do more harm than good. As a result, clearance is significantly reduced. But nevertheless, many car enthusiasts sacrifice functionality for the sake of aesthetics.

But one cannot fail to recognize a roof rack mounted on the roof as a very useful acquisition. Its carrying capacity is quite small, but if necessary, it can easily accommodate several cans of fuel.

Tuning the interior of the Chevy Niva does not have priority, because... For a domestically produced SUV, the interior is quite decent and even respectable. The only thing that can be done is to replace the standard seats with more comfortable and safe ones. But again, you shouldn’t experiment with installing exotic seats if the main focus of tuning is on subsequent off-road driving.

Also interesting: Haval will remove its most popular crossover from Russia - Rossiyskaya Gazeta

If the goal is to create a respectable car that can perform well in off-road conditions, then the interior can be completely redone and reupholstered, as well as tuning the Chevy Niva dashboard. But there is unlikely to be a desire to modify the external data of this car in the released restyled version.

We touched upon only a few individual aspects of tuning a Chevy Niva. The widest opportunities for independent tuning will be given to you by the availability of parts, the availability of design projects and, of course, the willingness to spend more than one day in the garage.

TOP 10 cool products for Lada Niva 4x4 from China from Aliexpress. Tuning VAZ Niva

Hello friends! Today I will present to your attention 10 useful products from China from the Aliexpress website for a real men's car Lada 4x4 Niva.

LED optics

LED headlight assembly. In addition to low and high beams, these headlights have DRLs (daytime running lights) on board in the form of angel eyes and simple backlighting, depending on the modification.

These headlights have a power of 75 watts, a color temperature of 6000 Kelvin and a luminous flux of 6000 lumens. LED chips are used from the world leader in the LED industry, CREE.

The headlights have an IP68 waterproof standard, meaning they are waterproof, which is very good for an SUV. The reviews contain a lot of photographs of satisfied users who are absolutely satisfied with their purchase. In addition to the Niva, these headlights can be installed on other cars, for example, on various modifications of UAZ and motorcycles. You can buy HERE and HERE

LED panels

Well, if you want more light, then there is a seller in China from whom you can choose LED spotlights of various powers and shapes. You can choose from 18 to 108 watts. You can buy 2 or more small spotlights and install them in different parts of the car, or you can buy one large chandelier and install them on a bumper, on a guardrail, or even on the roof.

Engine

If you decide to touch on the topic of the engine, then you will have to understand it more carefully. Do not do tuning yourself if you do not have a basic understanding of the structure and operating features of the elements of the power unit.

To modify the Chevrolet Niva engine, you can get into the design of the power unit, change some elements or perform other operations.

Among the most popular solutions are the following:

Replacement of the crankshaft and installation of new piston rings. This allows you to increase engine volume by about 0.1 liters. The change seems minor, but in fact the technical characteristics are improved;
Replacing injectors. By choosing high-quality and efficient injectors, fuel is consumed better and burns with greater benefit for power and dynamics;
Throttle valve. I advise you to read about it separately;
Installation of a new control unit. Will expand possibilities in terms of chip tuning;
Changing the motor geometry. This is done by increasing the diameter of the valves and wells of the exhaust and intake channel pushers;
Sealing of valves. This way you will increase the actual engine power by about 10%;
Flame arrestor. It is installed instead of a standard catalyst. Changes the operation of the exhaust system and has a positive effect on the dynamics of the Chevrolet Niva.

But all such modifications require significant knowledge and serious intervention in the technical component of the crossover.

That's why most car owners choose chip tuning.

Internal improvements

Every driver pays special attention to comfort behind the wheel. Do-it-yourself tuning of the Niva Chevrolet interior is done by installing a car computer and neon lighting. Heated seats can be installed in the cabin. Particular attention is paid to sound insulation. We replace the factory steering wheel and instrument panel with more comfortable and stylish analogues.

The instrument panel is independently redesigned as follows:

the factory torpedo is dismantled;
the product is cleaned and degreased;
glue is applied to the instrument panel;
the canvas is stretched and fixed;
if the canvas is dry, its excess is cut off;
Factory holes are cut in the Niva Chevrolet instrument panel (for mounting various devices).

The next stage of refinement of the SUV is improving the technical characteristics of the engine. Such alterations are carried out independently or entrusted to professionals. In the first case, you can increase the torque and power of the Chevrolet Niva engine using the following methods:

modernization of pistons and camshafts;
modification of the cylinder head;
valve change;
installation of lightweight and balanced flywheels on the Chevrolet Niva;
use of a high-flow exhaust system.

The first method of refining the power unit makes it possible to increase its working volume by 200 cc, which helps to increase engine power. Before upgrading pistons, it is recommended to decide on their type - cast or forged. The latter parts last longer than the former. When upgrading pistons, special attention is paid to the balance of each individual piston. If the center of gravity shifts from the axis of the finger, then the compression will drop. This has a negative impact on the Chevy Niva.

Transmission modification

Most often, transmission tuning involves some measures to reduce vibrations that occur in the front gearbox and are transmitted to the entire car body. Attempts to install self-locking gearboxes are also no less common. But if measures to reduce vibration are clearly necessary for the car and passengers, then all kinds of differentials with a high coefficient of friction and ball “self-blocks” will significantly complicate the use of the car.

Difficulties when using this kind of units, as a rule, rest on the not very high resistance of structural materials. Barely surmountable design flaws of modern devices prevent their effective use. Many Chevrolet Niv owners note the negative results of such DIY modifications. In some cases, repairs are required altogether.

It’s not for nothing that reviews from fans of this kind of modifications recommend putting the factory rear axle gearbox in the trunk and always carrying it with you, i.e. one day it will definitely be needed. But Chevy Niva tuning is very often narrowly focused and is carried out with the goal of improving the road properties of the car. The installation of wheel gears is quite reasonable here.

It should be noted that wheel gearboxes make it possible to equip a car with special softer tires, which will make it possible to move through swampy areas or deep snow. A slightly raised body, large-diameter wheels, high cross-country ability and an aggressive appearance are the result of installing the following final drives:

Making an organizer for the trunk of a Chevrolet Niva with your own hands

Very often, travelers, fishermen, or simply those car owners whose activities involve various tools are faced with the fact that there are not enough niches in the car to store various small items. You can solve this problem in different ways, but it is best to make an organizer for the trunk of a Chevrolet Niva in order to make the best use of the space in the car. This method of storage will allow you to group things by size and type of use, so that you can easily access them at the right time.

In this case, you can buy a ready-made version, or you can make such an organizer yourself. If you have the opportunity to do it yourself, this will not only save money, but also ultimately get a device that will be sized for the specific needs of the car owner.

To understand what shape the organizer should have, you need to imagine in advance how the items will be located in the trunk of the car and which of them you need to have on hand often. Very often, things scattered around the cabin cause many problems and cause great inconvenience not only to the driver, but also to passengers. Therefore, the parameters of the compartments are selected in advance before starting to manufacture the wooden base of the structure. Partitions and compartments can be made of plastic or wood. The top of the structure can be sheathed with a special fabric that will go well with the overall appearance of the trunk.

For which items should a niche be provided first:

Keys most commonly used for repairs

Jack

Warning triangle (triangle)

First aid kit

Fire extinguisher

Tire Inflator

other.

Upgrading the suspension to match the new transmission

After tuning the transmission due to inertia, it is necessary to modify the suspension. Experienced Niva owners, even without changing the basic characteristics of the car, often replace standard suspension parts with more reliable ones that are resistant to operational loads. The practice of replacing rubber bushings with polyurethane ones is quite common and should be taken into account by each Chevy Niva owner.

Polyurethane silent blocks, couplings, seals, limiters and similar suspension elements last several times longer than conventional rubber ones. They are also not sensitive to temperatures and petroleum products, and work well in rupture and compression.

Installing double shock absorbers, contrary to the assurances of skeptics, will not make the suspension inert. Double shock absorbers will increase the car’s ability to withstand dynamic vehicle loads and make it possible to drive the car off-road at high speed.

On numerous forums that are dedicated to tuning the Chevy Niva, the issue of choosing the type of shock absorbers that is optimal for installation on an SUV with a short wheelbase is very often discussed. Fans of radical changes stick to gas-filled shock absorbers.

And also interesting: Do-it-yourself Niva tuning for off-road ::

Niva operating experience shows that shock absorbers pay off only if they participate in cross-country racing. During normal operation, high-quality oil shock absorbers or conventional gas-oil shock absorbers from reputable manufacturers have proven themselves to be the best.

Suspension tuning

Modernization of the off-road characteristics of the Chevrolet Niva contributes to a significant expansion of the vehicle’s capabilities:

the upper shock absorber brackets are strengthened;
The fastening of the upper bolt holding the front axle gearbox is being modernized.

Additionally, you can install power steering, double or gas shock absorbers instead of the standard ones. All this is quite expensive, but having done such tuning, you will never regret it.

The appearance can be significantly changed using the following details:

front and rear bumper protection;
thresholds;
spoiler;
kangurins.

You can see what tuned Chevrolet Nivas look like in the photos or videos attached at the end of the article.

A little about the Chevrolet Niva car

Nowadays, it is customary to criticize and scold any product of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant: demanding modern users either lack comfort or the engine is not powerful. Even a truly successful model for the Volzhsky Automobile Plant does not remain without criticism from disgruntled owners.

But, however, any shortcomings of the car can be easily compensated for by tuning the Chevy Niva with your own hands. Any car can be customized according to the owner's vision if you put in a little time and effort. How much better, more powerful, more modern the car will become depends only on the diligence and originality of the performers.

Off road kit

Reviews clearly show that the Chevrolet Niva is very suitable as an off-road vehicle. But here you should take into account only the 4x4 version, since a single-wheel drive crossover will not cope with real off-road conditions.

Off-road tuning is the most popular. Technologically, this is not the most difficult thing you can think of. The whole point of the modification is to install and select several elements.

Body kit. I’m not sure that the plastic body kit from China will withstand real loads. Therefore, it is better to use a powerful front bumper based on steel pipes and with a platform for a winch. You can make an off-road body kit with your own hands, or order it through an online store or purchase it from a craftsman. Read separately about the power bumper using the example of the VAZ Niva;
Wheels and tires. With their help, the car will rake better and be positioned higher relative to the road surface. Although there is a more radical option, which provides for the additional installation of a lift kit on the Niva. It is better to take wheels on R15-16 along with a lift, which gives the car optimal ground clearance;
Snorkel. This is a special exhaust pipe that goes out onto the roof of the car. Relevant for those who are planning to conquer extreme off-road conditions. In normal urban conditions the thing is meaningless;
Winch. It is believed that installing a winch in the area of the front bumper is necessary in case of participation in trophy raids and other similar off-road competitions. But practice shows that such units help to get out of traffic situations, help other road users, pull a car (both yours and someone else’s) out of holes, ditches, etc.

Additionally, you can repaint the car, stick on various stickers, install a roof rack on the Chevrolet Niva, etc.

That's enough for now. We are moving further according to plan.

Optics improvements

To significantly change the appearance of the SUV, the standard optics are replaced with tuned headlights. To do this you will need a set of keys and screwdrivers. You can install a lighting platform on the roof of the vehicle. In this case, it is recommended to give preference to modern LED headlights, as they consume a small amount of energy. Experts include the following advantages of such optics:

practicality;
efficiency;
durability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaEpLbayAXM

When carrying out external tuning of the Chevrolet Niva, special attention is paid to windshield washers. The car is made in such a way that the driver needs to constantly add water to the tank. This is inconvenient at sub-zero temperatures, and cold water does not wash away dirt well.

To eliminate this problem, we install a heater. Hot water is used more economically and cleans glass better. Such a system makes it possible to avoid the use of dangerous methanol liquid, which is part of the anti-freeze glass cleaner. An engine heater can be purchased at a car market or in a specialized store.

Salon

For some reason, they often try to modify the outside of cars, leaving everything inside as it was intended by the factory. This is not entirely the right tactic, since there is a strong contrast between the bright exterior and the gray interior.

In order for the interior to have its own strong qualities, which Chevrolet did not try very hard to equip its Niva with, everything has to be taken into your own hands.

In terms of internal tuning, I offer the following options:

Retighten the role with leather or buy a new steering wheel. Beautiful and practical, because the factory steering wheel is very boring;
Change the instrument panel. A complete change of the dashboard, which includes the instrument panel, is not the easiest task. But the car is transformed instantly;
Install fashionable electronics. Yes, you can take a separate navigator, audio system, install DVRs, etc. Although it’s easier to take a comprehensive multimedia system that will have everything. We will also include a high-quality audio system for fans of good music;
Inserts for transfer cases, gearshift knobs, regulators. They can be completely replaced, decorated with stickers or tinted;

Noise insulation. A drastic intervention that will not affect your appearance in any way. But it will noticeably affect the level of comfort;
Replacement of seats. You can only change the trim, install covers, or completely get rid of the old interior by stuffing new front and rear seats into the Chevrolet Niva. If you have money and have big plans for a crossover, you can invest;
LEDs, stickers, pedal covers, etc. Minor tuning that allows you to specifically change the appearance of the interior. Nowadays we sell a wide variety of tuning elements, so choosing products for your Chevrolet will not be difficult for you.

In fact, we can talk endlessly about internal improvements. Companies come up with everything they can to make car owners spend their money. Some accessories are truly useful, while others just help you stand out a little and show off your personality.

Also interesting: Installing a towbar on a Niva with your own hands

Is it worth tuning a Chevrolet Niva?

There is no clear answer. Some people are used to driving a classic car, while others like to constantly improve their iron horse. It all depends on taste preferences.

But you need to take into account that when using the air conditioner, engine power drops noticeably. Also, original shock absorbers do not last long, so why wait until the part fails, you can improve the car right now.

Even the new Chevrolet Niva does not have very good sound insulation; when driving fast, the cabin will be noisy from the operation of the engine and transfer case. In addition, foreign odors may enter the interior, for example, when refueling a car. Tuning in this part of the car could solve a number of such problems.

Off-road tuning of an SUV

Improving off-road performance is perhaps the main direction of tuning the Niva. For all its advantages, the production Niva is still an all-terrain road vehicle. The possibilities of lifting a car have already been mentioned above. Now it’s worth talking about the possibility of overcoming fords.

Hydraulic preparation of the machine includes installation of a snorkel, protection of breathers and electrical wiring. When installing a snorkel, it is important to correctly calculate its cross-section. The greater the dynamic air resistance in it, the greater its length and the more its cross section differs from the circle. If the air duct is too narrow, the filling of the cylinders may deteriorate, which will lead to a decrease in engine power.

The breathers are protected by rubber hoses, located at the top of the engine compartment and equipped with filters.

An example of off-road tuning of a Chevrolet Niva in the video:

Tuning is endless, as are the possibilities for improvement. Each car owner has his own preferences, and tuning provides the means to bring the car to an individual ideal. Before you start implementing your ideas, we recommend using virtual 3D tuning programs, with which you can try on various modifications for your car on a computer.

Below the article we have collected several photos with the most interesting tuning options for the Chevrolet Niva, which may give you an idea for modifications to your car.

Chip tuning

The standard firmware on the Niva is not optimal and allows you to improve some indicators. If everything is done correctly, the car will become faster and more economical. Before chip tuning, a complete diagnosis must be carried out. If the engine is faulty, tampering with the electronics is strictly prohibited. The consequences can be unpredictable and sad.

Chip tuning is done something like this:

the control unit is dismantled;
connect a laptop or computer;
The PC reads information about the engine program and saves it in the archive;
the program is upgraded and recorded on the ECU;
the block returns to its place.

To make the machine work better, it is recommended to use licensed software. But you have to pay for it. So owners often make do with pirated programs.

To modify the engine of a Chevrolet Niva or 2123 using the chip tuning method, use the following programs:

Mikas 7.x;
VS 5.1;
January 7.2;
Bosch 7.xx, etc.

On average, chipping takes 1-2 hours. Helps increase power by approximately 10-15% and increase torque. The car runs smoother and quieter. At the same time, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption by 1-1.5 liters per 100 km.

In 2021, many good car repair shops offer such services. You can contact them.

Chip tuning Chevy Niva - the final stage of refinement of the power unit

An ordinary standard engine, after chip tuning, demonstrates performance indicators that significantly exceed the norm. The engine, whose design has undergone major changes and in which the volume of the combustion chamber has been increased, the weight of the crankshaft and connecting rods has been reduced, and a tuning camshaft and split gear for the gas distribution mechanism have been installed, simply needs to refine the control program.

Among those who like to carry out chip tuning with their own hands, there is a belief that the electronic engine control blog of the all-wheel drive Chevy Niva does not tolerate interference, and progressive self-learning technology makes any kind of effort to refine the firmware useless. Such features are actually characteristic of electronic engine control units Bosch 7.9.0, M7.9.7 and M7.9.7.

But the January 7.2 ECU equipment installed on tuned cars is completely devoid of this kind of shortcomings. The calibration of its read-only memory can be changed during a firmware update. As a result, the increase in power obtained after chip tuning the Chevy Niva engine reaches 15% in some cases.

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Power improvements

If the SUV is equipped with cylinders of increased volume, then you will need to use a combustion chamber with an optimized ventilation system. To do this, experts advise boring out the seat by installing valves of larger diameter. The sealing of the cylinder depends on the quality of the boring. Otherwise, the Chevrolet Niva is equipped with modernized valves, but in a T-shape (boring is not required).

The low weight of the plate ensures that the valves maintain a certain temperature regime. The channel closed by the upgraded valve has a higher throughput capacity than the standard analogue. Off-road tuning provides for the modernization of camshafts of the following groups:

grassroots - increase the cross-country ability of the vehicle;
taking into account the shape of the cams - for rational use of the traction force of the motor.

When modifying the power unit for the Chevy Niva, special attention is paid to picking up the pace of movement during the process of downshifting. If the SUV engine has undergone major changes (the volume of the combustion chamber has been increased, the weight of the connecting rods and crankshaft has been reduced), then the characteristics of the ECU will need to be changed. The calibration of this device is replaced when programming the firmware. If necessary, you can weld a shield to the body yourself, which will protect the engine from impacts.