Tuning GAZ 3102 with your own hands: interior, dashboard, headlights

GAZ-3102 "Volga" (tuning of this model will be described in this article) is a middle-class car that was produced in the USSR (now Russia). Mass production began in December 1981 and ended in 2009.

Initially, it was planned that the Volga would be the successor to the model with index 24. But for some reasons in the economic and political spheres, the car began to roll off the assembly line in limited quantities - 3 thousand copies per year, and larger quantities were not produced. This nuance was reflected in the fact that in the Soviet Union the GAZ-3102 began to be used only for official purposes. As a rule, the car came into the possession of officials, but not so influential as to acquire the Chaika. For the same reasons, the car was tuned, for example, the technical characteristics of the engine were improved in order to significantly increase the speed developed, and the security system was strengthened, both internal and external. They also often made changes to the interior: they changed the seats and installed additional elements, that is, they increased the level of comfort.

When creating the machine, all new technical advances were taken into account. In the same row with them stood the prechamber-torch ignition. It should be noted that circumstances developed in such a way that by the beginning of 1990, the production of this Volga was decided to stop. However, the change in “mood” in the Soviet Union, which led to the collapse of the state and the economic crisis, completely debunked hopes of starting the assembly of the next models of the line, namely GAZ-3105, GAZ-3111.

It was this reason that became decisive. As a result, the production of the GAZ-3102 (interior tuning attracts all lovers of minimalism) lasted for 27 years. This model was the only one among all that were produced by the Gorky Plant in terms of its assembly time. According to experts, more than 155 thousand copies were created. The authentic assembly was produced until 1992, the total number of cars was approximately 27 thousand.

Development history

During the development of the GAZ-3102 car, the plans were to create a car with a completely new unit, chassis and body. Ideally, it should have become the model for all newer models. The weight of the car was increased, the dimensions and power, accordingly, also underwent changes.

The Gorky plant planned to introduce changes with each model. However, all optimistic hopes had no place in real life. In the 70s, significant problems began with the financial side - payback began to decline. The oil crisis and political squabbles also played an important role in the development of the Russian automobile industry. Only by the mid-70s was the development of the new GAZ-3102 car fully completed, the tuning of which had been selected bit by bit for quite a long time. According to the manufacturer's plans, it should have been assembled by 1978, but again political problems prevented the plan from being realized.

When it became clear that there was no point in developing a car with a V6 engine, the plant decided to create improved modifications of the existing power unit, which promised to be much more powerful. According to theoretical calculations, after tuning the driving power could be about 150 hp. With.

It was possible to create comfortable dynamics, which is essentially what they did. However, we had to abandon the automatic transmission, power steering and air conditioning. All this helped reduce costs. It was just such a GAZ-3102 car (tuning, which significantly improved the technical characteristics, could be done independently) received a certificate and was allowed for assembly and sale in 1978.

The difference between GAZ-31029 and GAZ-2410

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and after the division of a single state, market relations began to develop in Russia. The pricing policy in the country has changed, and if in the USSR buying a car in general was very problematic, the Volga 31029 became one of the first models available to the common people.

The 3102 body taken as a basis was not much different from the 2410 frame, so the dimensions of the updated Volga remained almost the same as those of the GAZ-24, and the weight of the car also remained almost unchanged. The new model began to install other body elements:

• front and rear wings;
• hood;
• bumpers;
• taillights and headlights;
• doors.

The Volga received the trunk lid from the old model “twenty-ninth”, apart from some small details, the roof remained almost the same. Almost nothing has changed in the interior, and all components have been preserved, including the engine, gearbox, rear axle and suspension.

The modernization of the Volga always took place in some kind of its own mode, different from generally accepted standards - all modernization at GAZ took place in stages, regardless of the change in model. Therefore, all changes to 31029 were made gradually, and all of them mainly concerned the chassis and power units.

Exterior

Styling (aka external tuning) immediately showed the difference between this car and other copies of the same plant. By world standards of that time, its appearance fully met all the requirements and was quite fashionable. Thanks to changed safety regulations, the manufacturer had to update the appearance of windows, doors, trunk and body. The styling was influenced by the culture of North America and Western Europe. The manufacturer did not copy anyone’s ideas, but created his own, based on generally accepted living standards in different parts of the world.

Body

This is one of the main advantages of the GAZ 31029. The car body is not just big, it is huge. The cabin can comfortably accommodate even five people. But the front seats are still not entirely successful. Tall car enthusiasts will literally rest their heads on the roof. If you compare the body with the 2410 model, you will see that the 29 has received newer solutions at the front. It uses aerodynamic contours, an inclined radiator grille, and rectangular headlights. The turn signals are integrated into the front fenders. The body kit allows the car to provide better aerodynamic characteristics and reduce noise. New halogen headlights illuminate the roadway 30 percent brighter. New front fenders and a spoiler under the bumper have reduced windshield splashing. The bumpers are made of plastic, so they are not subject to corrosion. The body is poorly protected from corrosion. This is one of the disadvantages. If a car enthusiast constantly processed iron, then the car could “survive” to this day. When purchasing a used car, you need to carefully look at the wheel arches and rear apron. The most common failures occur due to metal fatigue. It's not very durable. Look at the GAZ 31029 for yourself (photos can be seen in the article).

If corrosion is not eliminated in time, the body will have to be completely or partially digested. And these are additional costs and a huge waste of time.

Interior

The GAZ-3102 car received a new body. At the same time, the tuning of the interior has changed quite a bit, contrary to all the expectations of potential buyers and critics. The manufacturer trusted Western taste more and tried to introduce something from foreign culture into the Russian auto industry. Therefore, the interior appearance of the car corresponded to all points of luxury and elegance. The main difference from the ZIL (where the standard upholstery material was replaced with polished wood) and the Chaika (here the panels appeared in laminated form), the Volga received special stickers that imitate wood. At the owner's request, the car windows could be tinted.

Installing a multimedia system to change the interior

The modern standard for changing the interior of a domestic car can be called the installation of a multimedia system. The features of this method of changing the interior include the following points:

• There are quite a lot of different devices on sale from different price categories; they are quite easy to install in a car. An example is outdoor multimedia systems.
• If necessary, you can integrate a multimedia system into the center console.
• The embedding process involves creating a seat in the panel. To do this, you can cut a hole to fit the dimensions of the multimedia system. It is made in such a way that the seams will be decorated.Jet.

Modern multimedia systems have a fairly large number of functions. An example is that the device can be used to display video, play music, or serve as a navigation system. Thus, the device not only changes the design of the interior, but also increases its functionality.

Engine

The pre-chamber engine is what the GAZ-3102 got. The technical tuning for the price given by the manufacturer was done very well. The only drawback of this mechanism was that it generates too much heat, which can end very badly for both the driver and his car.

Currently, the owners of these cars often use chip tuning. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to significantly improve the parameters of the unit. It is also possible to completely replace the engine with another (modern modification), but we must remember that when performing tuning yourself, you must carefully check the compatibility of the parts.

Optics

Modernization of optics on the Volga 3102 is carried out as follows:

1. The standard lamps on the front ones are replaced with halogen or xenon ones. LEDs are installed instead of running and side lights.
2. Instead of rear lights, LEDs are installed, the shape of the headlights and their “light pattern” are changed. In addition, headlight glass is tinted or repainted.
3. The direction of tuning the GAZ 3102 optics largely depends on the general concept of remaking the car. If these are minor changes (installation of a sunroof, replacement of the standard radiator grille, installation of alloy wheels), then only the lamps in the standard headlights are replaced with more modern ones and the car is equipped with daytime running lights. If the car is styled as an American muscle car, then the headlights can be replaced with round ones (double round headlights are often used), the taillights are subject to a similar alteration (an alternative is the use of vertical pillar taillights or the installation of lights connected to each other).

After completing the tuning of the headlights on the GAZ 3102, the changes made are registered with the traffic police. Otherwise, you will not be able to drive such a car.

Do-it-yourself tuning

Of course, it is possible to change the external and internal characteristics of the car. To the question “Why?” everyone who wants to carry out various manipulations with the machine will answer in their own way. What can be done?

You can easily change the radiator grille, bumper, tint and install xenon. Still, the first thing you should do is pay maximum attention to the interior. At least because the details made have a slightly old style and do not fit into everyday life. If you don’t go deep into a large-scale alteration, you can limit yourself to replacing the seats, steering wheel, updating the dashboard, etc.

Technical tuning of the GAZ-3102 is easy to correct with your own hands. You can install various additional systems and functions, as well as take care of complete sound insulation.

Threshold protection with film

To protect vehicles from various external influences, a wear-resistant film will be required. It is sold in different thicknesses, but in our case, and in particular - pasting thresholds - the most suitable solution is a film with a small thickness of “0.2 millimeters”.

The dimensions of the film must be at least fifteen centimeters in width for each threshold.

The material is quite expensive, and therefore, calculating its exact quantity is an important starting task. You will need window cleaner or a similar soap option, but do not use aggressive products. It would be appropriate to use a hair dryer.

This is a completely classic toolkit that is perfect for these events. The film is glued to the paintwork under the overlays.

The protective film is cut out with a certain margin and fitted to the desired location. Before starting the sticker process, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the thresholds, remove dirt and dust, and also degrease. Subsequently, washing liquid is used. This allows you to move, if necessary, along the surface in order to trim it. Due to this, the film will not immediately stick to the surface of the vehicle.

How to turn a GAZ-3102 into a truly cool aggressive car

One of the most popular cars among Russian tuners is the Volga. These cars are very popular with engines from Toyota, as a rule these are engines from the JZ and UZ series.

The car that will be discussed in this review is very similar to a gangster car, under its hood is a 1UZ-FE engine. This GAZ-3102 project is designed in the American style. Moreover, it is worth noting that these are the kind of cars - with square shapes and on huge wheels - that are loved in the USA.

The wheels on this tuned Volga do not look alien, but rather organically complement the car’s exterior. The “grin” of the radiator grille and the exhaust system, which is located in front of the rear wheel, give the car an aggressive look. A striking detail of the exterior is lens optics with headlights, the inside of which is painted black. The car looks very unusual.

The tuners also did not ignore the interior. The front panel, borrowed from the modern Volga, and the retro Nardi steering wheel combine very organically.

Of course, such a car will not go unnoticed on city roads. I am glad that in Russia there are more and more interesting tuning projects.

Source

2 Modernization of optics - original stripes for car headlights

Gas 3102 is equipped with good standard optics. The car's standard headlights have a rectangular shape and convexity recognizable for the Volga. They do their job quite effectively, but these elements of the car can be made even better by installing original luminous strips. Do-it-yourself optics tuning, as a rule, is not complete without LEDs. This method was no exception. First, the owner of the Volga will need to make bright strips from diode strips and acrylic glass, after which they can be carefully installed in the car’s headlights.

Gas 3102 with new optics

For modification you need to purchase:

• transparent and white matte plexiglass;
• white diode strip 120 cm long;
• colored ribbon 240 cm long;
• foil;
• black Oracal film;
• epoxy adhesive;
• plastic corner.

First you need to cut the corner into equal thin strips and paint them. Next, we take transparent and frosted plexiglass and cut it into the same strips. The result should be 6 identical strips no more than 2 cm wide. After this, take colored LED strips and glue them under the bottom of the strips. Glue white ribbons to the remaining strips. Solder the colored strips to each other. We do the same with white diodes. Thus, we made strips for the headlights.

Next, take the foil and glue it to the top surface of the strips with colored diodes. We glue black film over the foil and cut off the protruding corners. After this, your stripes should look like black bars. We connect the tape to the controller. First we check the colored tape, and then the white tape. If everything lights up, then you can install lights in the car headlights. To do this, we dismantle and disassemble the Volga optics. Apply a little epoxy glue to the side walls of the plastic that holds the standard lights. Immediately apply the manufactured bars to these places and hold them for about 30 seconds. It is very important that the bars are located in the same position in each headlight.

After securing the products, you need to check the updated Volga optics again. To do this, we connect the wires from the white tapes to the dimensions, and the wires from the colored ones to the battery terminal. If you are happy with the result, then you can assemble the car headlights.

Instrument panel upgrades

The vehicle instrument lighting changes as follows:

• the stock panel is removed;
• devices are removed;
• the sensor is disassembled;
• the arrow is pulled out;
• the scale is unscrewed;
• Solder a resistor to the LED.

The scales, as an option, can be decorated using a helium pen. There are also more LEDs in the central area. They do the same with watches. To protect the interior element from dust, use tape.

Headlight styling

Considering that the headlights on the Volga have a classic rectangular shape, and replacing them requires radical changes to the front part of the body, which are time-consuming and expensive, there is an excellent alternative - installing eyelashes. These plastic elements can give rectangular headlights a more rounded shape.

During daylight hours, they significantly change the appearance of the car, and together with the LEDs that can be installed inside, they are an effective element of tuning the Volga 3110. They are superimposed on the headlights and do not interfere with the operation of the headlights.

Is it possible to make these elements yourself? Yes, it's possible. To do this, you will need fiberglass (fiberglass mat), polyester resin, cling film, plastic putty, primer in a can, paint and varnish or self-adhesive auto vinyl film.

Don’t rush to dismantle the light elements; first, make a mock-up of the future eyelash and attach it to the headlight. The shape of the plastic element can be different, it all depends on your imagination. As a rule, a width of 2-4 cm is sufficient. For a more harmonious combination with the body, the eyelash should extend onto the headlight and turn signal.

Some impatient craftsmen stick a film matching the color of the car onto the glass of the lighting fixture, imitating an eyelash, but this option does not have volume. If from a distance of 3-5 meters it looks more or less, then upon closer inspection it is not comme il faut.

After dismantling, wrap the headlight in one or two even layers of cling film. This will prevent the polyester resin from getting on the glass, then saturate a separate surface with fiberglass and apply it to the headlight. Work wearing gloves in a well-ventilated area. The total thickness of the element should be about 5 mm. After drying, give the eyelash the desired shape, trim off the excess with a corner machine. Be sure to wear a respirator and safety glasses. Putty and prime the front surface. You can paint it the color of the car or cover the eyelash with vinyl. It is installed on the headlight using adhesive sealant. The GAZ 3110 tuning headlights in the photo in the updated version will look awesome.