Frame, side members, “telly”, body pillars, “basin”. Let's figure out what it is

Car tuning has long ceased to be the prerogative of rich people. Today, most car owners, one way or another, improve their “stallions”, making them recognizable and original. And for enthusiasts, this has completely become a hobby, which provides them with the opportunity to express themselves and realize their creative potential.

Car body tuning is traditionally focused on increasing the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle, although sometimes such events are carried out to improve its driving characteristics.

An example of car body tuning on a Mitsubishi

In both cases, a car’s body upgrade remains the most visible and striking type of tuning, which guarantees the car’s individuality. Such an improvement in the exterior pleases the eye of both the vehicle owner and those around him.

External tuning allows you to change almost any element in the car’s exterior, from handles, optics and body kit to the roof and glazing.

Thresholds

The simplest, most affordable and popular option for updating the appearance of a vehicle is the use of door sills. You can make them yourself or purchase a ready-made kit for a specific car model. Installing factory linings is not difficult, but if you are not confident in your own abilities, then you can contact the specialists of the nearest car service center.

Despite the huge selection offered by the market, door sills made personally or to order will always be more original. For these purposes, metal is usually used, less often - wall panels or foam plastic.

An example of tuning the thresholds of a Mercedes car

Foam thresholds are the most accessible, cheapest and easiest to manufacture option, for which you need to have foam of the appropriate size, putty and primer, as well as fiberglass.

The process of making thresholds is simple. It includes steps such as:

• forming a product of the required dimensions and shape from a piece of foam plastic;
• coating the workpiece with fiberglass in several layers;
• puttying the product to eliminate unevenness;
• priming and painting in the desired color.

After the paint has dried, all that remains is to install the original threshold on the car. Using foam plastic greatly simplifies the task of creating overlays, but this option is the least reliable and durable.

The most practical solution remains thresholds made of steel, but in this case you will need certain skills in working with metal and tools for processing it. And the cost of such a product will be many times more expensive.

An example of car tuning using iron thresholds

Thresholds made from wall panels can be considered the “golden mean”. Their production requires minimal financial costs and skills. The car owner will need to purchase high-quality wall panels, drywall guides, metal screws and epoxy resin, as well as putty, primer, paint, varnish and anti-corrosion agent.

Having prepared everything you need, you can begin external tuning of the car. The procedure consists of the following operations.

1. Drilling holes for self-tapping screws in the body and treating them with anti-corrosion agent.
2. Fastening the guides and installing wall panels on them.
3. Application of fiberglass panels using epoxy.
4. Primer and putty of surfaces.
5. Painting and varnishing of the structure.

Tuning car thresholds using wall panels
From the point of view of price and quality, as well as labor intensity and practicality, this method is the most optimal option for updating car thresholds.

Frame

There are three types:

• Spar;
• Khrebtovaya;
• Spatial.

Within these species there are their own subspecies, and there are also mixed species. In this article, we will take a closer look at the classic spar frame:

Types of spar frames. Today we will only talk about the first one. Photo from the site https://techautoport.ru

The classic spar frame consists of two longitudinal spars and transverse beams. This type is often called a “ladder” type of frame. Currently, this type of frame is actively used in trucks and SUVs.

Trunk

The luggage compartment of a vehicle is usually sought after by those who often use their cars to transport various cargoes. Depending on the goals pursued, car owners try to make the trunk more spacious and/or functional by equipping it with various latches and shelves, covering it with panels, etc.

An example of tuning a car trunk

Those who focus on aesthetics install various ladders, spoilers and linings with chrome surfaces, which gives the car a fast and aggressive look, typical of sports cars.

Some car owners are trying to increase the level of comfort and convenience by installing power locks and/or additional handles on the trunk.

Basin (trunk floor)

In some cars, this container actually collects water, especially during the rainy season. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to wash yourself in one, but it’s easy to spread corrosion. I think there is no need to explain where this element is located. Let me just show you a photo and you will understand everything:

The notorious "basin". Photo from Yandex.Pictures

Separate from the car - there really is a similarity, isn't it?)

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Optics

An excellent option to radically change the appearance of a car body is optics tuning. This solution allows the updated headlights to provide a number of advantages over standard analogues installed on:

• original and expressive exterior of the vehicle;
• improved light/color rendering parameters;
• improving driving safety at night and/or in bad weather;
• resistance to vibrations and negative external factors;
• increased service life.

An example of tuning car headlights
The indisputable advantages of tuning optics also include the low energy consumption of modern LED lamps, which do not cause overloads in the operation of the battery and generator. In addition, these alternative optics produce brighter light, providing an even beam, and take less time to reach peak light output.

JSC NPC "KUZOV"

Currently, the RF Ministry of Defense is widely used, developed by NPC "KUZOV" (successor to VPKTIM), automobile van bodies GOST RV 51791-2001 (hereinafter KF) and automobile container bodies GOST RV 52047-2003 (hereinafter KK) based on composite panels TU 13 -0273250-18-89. Fundamentally, there are two different types of KF, KK from “full-size panels” TU 13-0273250-58-01 and “modular design” TU 13-0273250-21-94, TU 13-0264073-40-01.

KF , KK from “full-size panels” have been widely used by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation since the 70s of the last century in car bodies of the “K” type made of reinforced foam plastic TU 13-87-80. The production of modern KF, KK from full-size panels was serially mastered in the early 90s, TU 13-0273250-58-01 is technologically advanced, simple and mastered by all enterprises in the industry.

KF , KK “modular design” were also developed in the 90s and mass-produced by some enterprises in the industry. “Modular” CFs and CCs have a number of advantages in terms of resistance to external influencing factors and weapons of mass destruction, because has a load-bearing metal frame for each module, and requires special technological equipment and production preparation to ensure higher accuracy and assembly quality. WITH

Modern CFs and CCs are equipped in the basic version with unified standard life support systems. At the customer's request, standard life support systems KF, KK can be supplemented with modern digital sets of mounting parts (KMK) for their automated operation, namely:

1. Power supply system based on power supply and protection unit BPZ TU 13-0273250-20-87 (non-stabilized transformer), TU 3177-012-47284720-05 (pulse stabilized);
2. Internal and external lighting system TU 37.003.1120-82 (lamps), TU 4573-056-47284720-2018 (LED boards);
3. Heating and ventilation system based on heating agent (24V, diesel fuel) TU 37.001.382-79 (analog control panel), TU 4232-073-47284720-2020 (digital remote control);
4. Air conditioning system from an external network (3ph, 400V, 50 Hz, up to 6 kW) TU 29.32.30-007(8)-28384752-2020 (air conditioning), TU 4232-074-47284720-2020 (digital climate control);
5. Filter ventilation system based on FVUA-100-A (24V) VA 9712.000 TU (analog panel), TU 4232-075-47284720-2020 (digital mechanized valve control panel);
6. Access control and security system TU for KK, KF (lock, sealing lugs), TU 4232-077-47284720-2020 (electromagnetic/electromechanical digital lock with access keys).

All developed CF, CC and products based on them have high levels of camouflage, survivability and resistance to external influencing factors. At the customer's request, the parameters of ergonomics, habitability, and visibility can be improved through the use of modern solutions. The average service life of CF and CC is at least 20 years, and the warranty period for operation and storage is at least 10 years. The possibility of transporting KF, KK by all types of transport is provided. KF, KK are fireproof, because In their design, exclusively non-flammable materials and materials that do not support combustion are used. Low cost compared to analogues and high performance characteristics are ensured by a high level of standardization and unification of components and parts of KF, KK.

Comparative tables of weight-dimensional characteristics of automobile-van bodies and container bodies in the BAT type for 2021-2030. are presented in the tables below.

Container bodies GOST RV 52047-2003, accepted for supply to the Russian Defense Ministry until 2021. *

* additional information about modifications, designs, configurations and automation equipment for automobile van bodies and container bodies can be provided by the developer upon request.

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Body kit

Many motorists do not like the standard body kit of production cars. Therefore, they use stylish aerodynamic analogues, which are a complex of various decorative elements. Installing an aerodynamic body kit allows you to qualitatively transform the exterior, while simultaneously reducing air resistance, which significantly affects the dynamics and controllability of the car, as well as fuel consumption.

The improvement in the car's driving performance is easy to explain. The aerodynamic body kit improves the removal of oncoming air masses from the engine compartment and underbody, which contributes to better adhesion of tires to the road surface.

An example of car body kit tuning

Most often, such tuning makes the car body more rapid and aggressive. The aerodynamic kit includes:

• spoilers and deflectors;
• wheel arch extensions;
• thresholds and visors;
• bumpers and skirts.

Spars

Spars are the main strength elements of the front part of the load-bearing body of a car.

Construction of a load-bearing car body. Photo from the site https://kuzov.info

Spars can be located in the front or rear of the car, or they can run along the entire length of the car. They look like rectangular pipes.

Mudguards

To protect the paintwork of the thresholds from damage and the bottom from dirt, mudguards are installed on cars. These elements look harmonious and aesthetically pleasing on the wheel arches, providing them with a finished look.

In addition to visual appeal, the advantages of mud flaps include such aspects as:

• long resource and durability;
• excellent wear resistance and impact resistance;
• light weight;
• excellent elasticity;
• resistance to aggressive environments and significant temperature fluctuations.

In addition, mud flaps do not require special care.

Protective film

A special protective film helps to protect your car's paintwork from mechanical damage, aggressive environments and corrosive processes.

Applying protective film to Lexus

Modern high-quality protective films are characterized by:

• strength and transparency;
• high elasticity;
• durability;
• ease of installation and maintenance.

This protective layer effectively copes with its tasks while remaining invisible to others. It does not turn yellow or fade, and is also easy to clean.

Protective film

Spectacular external car tuning can be achieved by covering the body with a protective film. This is one of the most popular methods of refining a car body due to its availability and low price. In addition, such an upgrade will protect the car’s paintwork from corrosion processes, scratches and chips.

The protective film is applied over body elements and requires a competent approach. It is quite possible to carry out the work on your own, but for this you need to have special skills and tools, and purchase high-quality film. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the paintwork. Even if it is possible to apply an inexpensive film with high quality, then during subsequent removal it may come off along with the paintwork.

Therefore, if you have the slightest doubt about your abilities, you need to turn to professionals. The protective film applied by specialists will serve for a long time, without fading and 100% coping with its tasks.

Wheel covers

Caps have been used as a tuning element for quite a long time. This accessory not only looks great, but also protects tires and rims from all kinds of damage.

Tuning wheels VAZ 2101 - chrome caps

Structurally, the hoods are divided into closed and open models, the difference between which is the presence of holes for ventilation.