Luaz 969m, also known by the name “Volyn”, was the first Soviet all-terrain vehicle, which was intended not for the needs of the military, but for personal use. This small car, but distinguished by high off-road properties, was produced from 1966 to 2001. During this time, the car has undergone very minor changes - both in the mechanical part and in terms of design and comfort.
The most serious update can be considered the installation of a new engine in the car. After 1990, the air-cooled MeMZ-245 installed in LuAZs was replaced by a 1.1 liter engine from the Tavria car, characterized by the presence of water cooling, increased power and speed.
Otherwise, until the cessation of production, the Volyn remained a car characterized by good cross-country ability, low cost, and a high degree of practicality. At the same time, the negative features of this car cause so many complaints that they neutralize the positive aspects mentioned above. LuAZs suffer from mediocre build quality and parts manufacturing. Another huge disadvantage is the archaic design, which initially does not take into account the need to ensure comfort, uncomfortable steering with large play, and extremely low dynamic characteristics of the car. Another design disadvantage is complex and time-consuming maintenance, which, moreover, is required by the car very often.
All this, as well as the very low price of the car, make Luaz tuning a fairly popular area of the modern industry for improving old cars. Moreover, the scope for activity here is enormous - in Volyn it is difficult to find a unit that does not require improvement.
What are the features of LUAZ?
The production of the car in question is carried out by a Ukrainian automobile manufacturing enterprise, whose production facilities are located in Lutsk.
For a long period, the plant was engaged in the production of off-road vehicles. It is worth considering that the production capacity of the automaker in question was used to produce other models, for example, ZAZ. This plant is better known for the LAUZ brand, under which the famous high-performance vehicle was produced.
The production of vehicles under this brand took place from 1966 to 2001. It should be borne in mind that under this brand they produced simply a huge number of modifications of the car with high cross-country ability.
What are the features of LUAZ? There are quite a lot of them:
• This car was the first SUV to have front-wheel drive. Prior to this, manufacturers in the CIS countries did not invest in the development of passenger vehicles with increased cross-country ability.
• According to the automaker at the time of release of this model, it was intended for use in rural areas. This is due to the fact that the car is less comfortable when used on a regular asphalt road.
• The car is a representative of the budget class. They were able to reduce its cost by simplifying the body finishing. This moment determined the decrease in comfort in the cabin. The model is positioned as a semi-passenger car, which has a small interior.
• The cross-country ability of LUAZ vehicles is so high that this vehicle is therefore ahead of many of its modern competitors. We achieved this result by installing an independent suspension, increasing ground clearance, reducing body weight, and connecting rear-wheel drive. In addition, small overhangs outside the base determine large entry and exit angles of the car. In addition, engineers protected the bottom and other structures from mechanical impact by installing metal sheets.
Despite the fairly large number of forest reviews, the shortcomings were also significant. Examples include the following:
• Difficult access to the front seats. The high seating position and the peculiarities of the doors make it quite difficult to get into the cabin.
• Lack of dynamics. The car behaves poorly on the track. Due to the aerodynamic load created, stability decreases. LUAZ does not have a body with high aerodynamic performance.
• The complexity of maintenance is also the reason why the cars in question are purchased only for tuning. It is bought extremely rarely for restoration, since LUAZ is not a rare rarity.
• Poor quality of finishing becomes the reason why there is little comfort in the cabin. In winter, the operation of this car becomes significantly more difficult, since there is practically no insulation.
A good load on the front axle determines the vehicle’s increased cross-country ability even when the rear wheel drive is disabled. Over the course of a long period, the installation of an engine from the Zaporozhets was carried out, due to which the LUAZ was noisy, and quite often it did not have enough power to overcome difficult sections on the road. In addition, the installed motor had the following disadvantages:
• Noisy. During operation there was a lot of noise, which is due to the lack of an exhaust system.
• Short-lived. As practice has shown, the car could only travel a few thousand kilometers without major repairs. The problem was ineffective cooling.
• Not powerful enough to provide the required cross-country ability. The maximum power rating even after modernization was only 50 horsepower.
• Poor torque curve, which causes unstable operation when the load increases.
All these features determined that this car was produced in extremely limited quantities. Also, 100,000 came out only after 15 years of production, and during that entire time only 200,000 copies came off the assembly line. That is why today it is quite difficult to find a LUAZ that has not undergone technical changes.
Why is LUAZ tuning popular in Russia?
A fairly common question is why many people decide to choose this car for tuning. There are quite a few reasons:
• Initially, the model had high driving performance. If after tuning you need to get a car that will have high cross-country ability, LUAZ is better suited than many.
• Low cost. It is difficult to find a car like this in good condition, as it has not been produced for several decades. In most cases, you get a version with poor technical condition.
• Almost everything can be removed from this car, since many components are outdated and worn out long ago. If full tuning is to be carried out, then this option is ideal.
• Initially, LUAZ has front-wheel drive and the ability to connect rear-wheel drive. The bottom is almost flat.
• The body of the car in question is semi-supporting, which has an integrated spar-type frame. Due to this, you can find LUAZ in very good condition. The body in question has high load-bearing capabilities.
In general, we can say that the modernization of this car involves the replacement of almost all elements. Considering the low cost, we can say that when looking for a car with increased cross-country ability for tuning, you should pay attention to LUAZ.
Body
The first thing that attracts attention when viewing photos representing LuAZ tuning is the changes regarding the car body. The semi-supporting body of the “Volyn” with a spar frame makes it possible to implement quite bold experiments.
Here actions are possible in two main directions - improving what is already there. Or a complete redesign of the body.
The first option usually includes installing roll bars, painting the body with modern materials, installing an off-road body kit and a yoke. A common option is also to replace standard lighting fixtures, which allows not only to transform the car externally, but also to significantly improve the illumination of the space in front of the car. The standard headlights leave much to be desired in this regard.
Also, additional equipment is often installed that may be needed during an off-road trip - various winches and other self-towing devices.
The second option is to remove the roof and install safety showers instead, providing for the use of a removable awning if necessary. The design of the car allows you to cut off the roof pillars, and even make the windshield drop down, in imitation of army “jeeps”. This type of tuning requires a much larger amount of work, but can significantly change the appearance of the “Volyn”, which does not sparkle with design delights.
What tuning is popular among LUAZ fans?
The fact that this car has a large number of features determines the possibility of carrying out a wide variety of tuning. Among the features of the tuning, we note the following points:
1. The body is semi-supporting, into which a spar-type frame is integrated. This point determines that body work often involves removing all of the affected metal, leaving only part of the frame. An exception is the case when the restoration and restoration of LUAZ is carried out. If the frame is damaged, then practically nothing can be done with the car. As for installing the body kit, there are no restrictions, although you will have to create special mounts.
2. As previously noted, the car is equipped with an engine that was installed on the Zaporozhets. Original design four-cylinder V-type engine. The first models were equipped with a 30 hp engine, after which they began installing a more powerful engine with 40 hp.
The cooling system is represented by a fan that pumps air, and the oil is cooled in the oil cooler and crankcase. To do this, a crankcase with a ribbed surface was installed. All the points given in this paragraph indicate that it is necessary to completely replace the motor. Even by restoring an old structure, high performance cannot be achieved.
3. Please note that the cooling system does not have a thermostat. That is why you have to manually set the operating mode in winter. If a new motor is installed, the cooling system will also have to be changed.
4. Initially, a separate heater was installed in the cabin, which can be used to heat the engine in winter. Therefore, there are no problems starting the LUAZ engine. But still, to increase comfort, you will have to insulate the interior - another popular tuning method.
5. The transmission is quite simple, light in weight and small in size. If the engine is replaced, a new gearbox with clutch is installed.
6. As for the center differential, it is missing. That is why when driving on paved roads, the rear axle must be disengaged. Slipping of one of the wheels can be prevented by forced blocking. These points determine the low comfort in using LUAZ. That is why tuning also includes replacing the drive.
7. The suspension type is torsion bar, mounted on trailing arms. This ensures greater wheel travel. Initially, 13-inch wheels were installed. Due to this, high cross-country ability was ensured, but the stability of the car at high speeds was poor. That is why tuning also involves replacing the entire suspension.
8. Attention is also paid to other elements of the car, for example, optics or increased crankcase protection. Optical tuning can only be done when purchasing ready-made designs. As for protecting the crankcase and other elements, you will have to do all this yourself.
9. Tuning the interior involves installing a variety of modern elements: a new instrument panel, electric window lift, comfortable seats with lateral support.
In general, we can say that there are simply a huge number of methods for modernizing LUAZ. The changes affect almost all elements. If you wish, you can make the LUAZ an SUV with an open or closed top - the choice is simply huge.
Background [ edit | edit code]
In the mid-1950s, NAMI developed a promising type of minicars and their units, planned for development during the implementation of the Seven-Year Plan for the Development of the National Economy (1959-1965). This type included three types of cars: a four-seater general-purpose microcar intended for sale for individual use (the future ZAZ-965); a two-seater microcar for disabled people, designed to replace wheelchairs from the Serpukhov plant (the experienced NAMI-031, did not go into production) and a light multi-purpose cargo-passenger vehicle, designed to transport four people, or two people and 200–250 kg of cargo.
The development of the latter concept was started by NAMI in 1958 together with the Irbit Motorcycle Plant with the construction of a prototype NAMI-049 “Ogonyok”, the design of which was largely based on the previously developed military amphibious all-terrain vehicle NAMI-032G (late 1956 or early 1957). The car had a steel supporting base and body frame (pillars, windshield frame, tailgate opening), onto which fiberglass outer panels (tails, doors, hood, side) were attached. As a result, an optimal combination of weight was achieved - only 752 kg in running order - and dynamic qualities - the maximum speed with a 22-horsepower Irbit MD-65 engine was 80 km/h, as well as fuel consumption - 6.7–7.1 l/ 100 km, depending on road conditions. Independent torsion bar suspensions on trailing arms, permanent drive to the front axle with the rear axle being disengaged, lockable wheel differentials, and wheel gearboxes were used. The carrying capacity was 300 kg with two passengers, or four passengers.
Subsequently, the designers of a repurposed for the production of minicompact cars (Zaporozhye, Ukrainian SSR) joined the work on the car, on which prototypes of the NAMI-049A “Tselina” (light truck) and ZAZ-969 were created, unified in the power unit with the ZAZ model that had just been mastered by the plant -965 “Zaporozhets”.
Engine tuning: getting rid of strong noise
As previously noted, the factory-installed motor has a fairly large number of shortcomings. Noise, low maintainability, low power - there are quite a few reasons why a motor is replaced. An example is the following points:
• First, the most suitable engine for the car in question is selected. This is due to the fact that you need to select a design taking into account the amount of engine compartment space.
• Selection of design based on efficiency and power. It should be taken into account that for such a light car 70-100 hp will be enough. When choosing a motor, attention is paid to reliability, maintainability, and efficiency.
• Designs from VAZ and other domestic manufacturers are most suitable. This is due to their availability, as well as simplicity of design.
Important! The original engine is not suitable for tuning. Even if the engine is in good technical condition, the upgrades carried out can increase power by no more than 20 horsepower.
All engine tuning work can be divided into the following groups:
1. Changes in the design features of installed engines. To do this, the main elements are replaced, for example, the camshaft, as well as changing the installed elements, boring the cylinder block. This type of operation allows you to significantly change the main parameters: power, efficiency, fuel consumption. However, it is quite difficult to carry them out on your own; you need to have certain skills.
2. You can replace combined elements, for example, the exhaust system or cooling. If you install kits that are produced by professional companies, you can achieve better results. A high-quality gas exhaust system and gas distribution system can increase engine power by 30 horsepower.
3. Installing high-quality consumables will also increase engine power. An example is the air and oil filters, as well as other elements.
The scope of work carried out depends on the specific case.
LuAZ 969 Lunar “SNOW” › Logbook › Overhaul of the LuAZ engine. Installation of ShPG.
Greetings to all who have come. My “dancing with a tambourine” around Memz continues. He came to me, or rather, a new connecting rod with a pin “flew in”, bought it on Avito for the 4th cylinder. Now you can continue the assembly.
So, the connecting rod, washed from preservative lubricant, was successfully implanted in conjunction with the piston and weighed. Luck again, weight 1121, 2 grams less than the others.
Connecting rod of the 1st cylinder with a weight of 1126 g. ground down. I’ll say right away that I didn’t lose weight ideally, the difference was 1-2 grams. I think that it is not critical for a low-speed engine. Next, I installed the piston rings on the “beauty” pistons, cut out an improvised “brace” of rings from a can, which completely coped with its task. At the end of the day, I got so good at it that I could push a piston with new rings into the cylinder in seconds.
There was an issue with installing the rings. I had a new set of rings, opened it and began installation. I installed all the rings, put on the last oil scraper and one more remains EXTRA. What the fuck?
I think, well, I probably missed one thing, I started removing all the pistons from the cylinders, and this is again lubrication, again adjusting the joints of the rings, and installation in the cylinders. In general, I checked everything, everything is in place. The ring turned out to be superfluous in the set. I didn’t remove the old ones, they are all on old pistons, which means it has nowhere to come from. So it goes.
After this, I prepared to install the ShPG into the cylinder block. I removed the pan, prepared the sealant, clamps, gaskets, and the “soul went to heaven.”
Before installation, I measured the height of the cylinders from the landing plane, there was a difference of 0.5 mm, so I placed a gasket from the kit under the 2 cylinders, covering it between layers of sealant. After installation, the cylinders on both sides were in the same plane.
There were some problems. I put in the 3rd cylinder (1st by numbering), attach it to the knee, observing all the nuances, and decided to turn the crankshaft to check if the rotation is normal. AND OPA-NA. WEDGE. The crankshaft rests on the skirt of the 1st and 3rd piston. What the. How so? It turns out that the pistons of group A are higher or lower, as you wish, than the pistons of group B by 2mm, which I had originally installed. Well, why didn’t I check and measure everything in advance before installation? Lack of experience and lack of care take their toll.
Okay, I removed the 1st cylinder, ground off the corners of the protruding piston skirt, where it touched the “knee”, tried everything on, the knee goes through without touching, there is a gap of 2 millimeters, I think that’s enough. Of course, I had to remove and apply new sealant, etc. got a little confused. And on the 3rd piston, I ground off the contact point with a file without disassembling the “assembly”. The connecting rods were tightened with a torque wrench with a force of 5 kg. It was scary at some point, I thought now I was going to vomit something, but everything was not normal.
As a result: everything is set to rotate tightly by hand, it is easier to rotate with a ratchet, the pistons “fly” tightly with a certain sound, everything is lubricated. Before installation, I checked the holes in the knee and found them clean (I missed this point earlier). I installed the oil pump tube with sealant, also with a temperature sensor on the pan. I degreased the pan and also applied sealant WITHOUT A GASKET, I didn’t like it from the kit. Not only did it tear when I took it out, but the holes didn’t line up. I think why am I going to take a steam bath with her.
Source
Interior tuning: work to improve comfort
As previously noted, the interior comfort of the car in question is very low. This is due not only to the fact that the model was produced as a budget offer, but also to the poor condition of LUAZ vehicles. Among the features of interior tuning, we note the following points:
• The interior is completely insulated. A variety of materials can be used for this. In addition, individual structural elements can be insulated, for example, doors or the engine compartment, but only after they have been restored.
• Complete restoration of the metal is carried out. This work involves cutting out the affected areas, as well as cleaning up the corrosion.
• New seats can be installed, for example, with lateral support. To do this, you will have to create special fastenings.
• The interior is often re-upholstered when using new material. Such work is quite difficult to perform and requires certain skills and equipment.
• A new central dashboard is installed with all the equipment: dashboard, radio, and so on.
In general, we can say that tuning the interior is not an easy task. It is recommended to change the interior only after bodywork and other work has been carried out.
It is recommended to entrust the cladding to professionals. This is due to the following points:
• The base needs to be well prepared. Not all surfaces can be sheathed, and quite a lot of requirements are placed on the substrate.
• Material selection is another important criterion. Only high-quality fabrics and finishing materials should be used when decorating the interior. The selection of suitable ones can only be carried out by a professional.
• The cladding technology itself requires a certain set of tools and skills. This is due to the peculiarities of fastening the material to the base, as well as the fact that it is necessary to stretch the surface to eliminate the possibility of wrinkles.
• Experience determines how well the work will be done. Mistakes made can lead to a reduction in the service life of the interior.
In addition, by turning to professionals you can save on the amount of time spent on tuning. The main thing is to choose the most suitable studio for yourself.
Installation of new headlights and modern optics
The engineering industry has made significant progress in the field of optics production. Today, a small structure has a high light emission rate. Work on changing the optics can be carried out as follows:
1. First, you need to create seats for the selected type of optics. At the same time, attention is paid to the condition of the metal: all corrosion, defects and other problems must be resolved.
2. Before carrying out work, you should select the most suitable optics. The design will fit after disassembly; you can also purchase new headlights. It is important to initially select the most suitable design in order to obtain the required dimensions.
3. Recently, the diode type design has become very popular. It has many advantages: long service life, high reliability, high light emission and low power consumption.
4. If desired, you can upgrade the purchased design. Modernization consists of changing the properties of protective glass, increasing the reliability of the design, and so on.
Do not forget that a large number of requirements are imposed on head optics and taillights: reliability, degree of light emission, brightness and many others.
Conventionally, tuning can be divided into the following types of work:
• Complete replacement of the structure. In this case, it is necessary to completely replace the structure, since the original one arrives in poor technical condition.
• Decoration of the protective surface. As a rule, glass or plastic acts as protection. The surface can be covered with various colored films, for example, for darkening.
• Installation of additional elements or replacement of already installed ones. Other light sources, for example, diode strips, can be installed inside the head optics structure. They look very attractive and have high performance qualities.
The most popular tuning option today is the installation of a design with diode light sources, as well as various reflective elements. Do not forget that it is impossible to install colored light sources according to accepted rules.
Conclusion
In general, each car owner makes his own, unique changes. Someone installs swivel seats, allowing you to spend the night in Volyn relatively comfortably. Someone, on the contrary, removes the back row, installing a table or additional equipment there. There are options with a reinforced roof, which allows you to transport quite serious loads on it. And there are also LuAZs - snow and swamp-going vehicles. For these purposes, the car is made as light as possible and ultra-low pressure tires are installed, and all seams are hermetically sealed, trying to achieve positive buoyancy of the car. All these modifications are available on the Internet - you can watch photo videos illustrating LuAZ tuning with your own hands, compare the resources spent with your capabilities, and choose the tuning option that is most suitable for certain tasks.
Tuning the dashboard: how you can change this element of the car
Almost all the most important information is displayed on the instrument panel. This point determines the importance of good readability of all data. Tuning can be carried out as follows:
• The design, which was installed at the factory, rarely reaches tuning in good technical condition. That is why most often a new instrument panel is installed, which is subsequently also modernized.
• Today you can purchase a new instrument panel or take the design after disassembly. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to structures that are purchased after disassembly.
• Modernization may consist of installing a new light source. If the instrument panel is illuminated with conventional lamps, the information may be difficult to read. You can do the work of installing a diode light source yourself, since many instrument panel designs are collapsible.
• If the jackal and other decorative elements are in poor technical condition, you can update them yourself.
Installing a new instrument panel is quite difficult, especially if a non-original design is used. Let us consider the features of modernization of installed structures in more detail.
There are several methods for tuning the dashboard:
1. Create a backlit arrow. The design, which is backlit, looks very attractive. To do this, a arrow design is created from a transparent material into which the backlight is built. It is recommended to choose diodes as a light source - they are small, last a long time, and are highly reliable.
2. In addition, tuning involves the creation of a scale of unusual design. Of course, it will have to be adjusted to the placement of the arrows. You can make a scale image with your own hands, which only requires the ability to use a graphic editor. You can print the scale on a color printer. The scale is glued quite simply; a protective film is glued on top to protect the surface.
3. Diode light sources can be installed to illuminate the entire structure. However, to make the design more attractive, the very values are highlighted. To do this, light sources are installed on the reverse side.
It is recommended to purchase a more suitable modern design, which will be further tuned.
Birth of an idea
There is an interesting dependence that gives rise to a new element of tuning when you find yourself in a difficult situation, and the steeper it is, the more original the technical solution.
Thus, LuAZ fell into clay captivity because “I just can’t do it,” and liberation was possible only in the form of a tractor or all-terrain vehicle, which are difficult to find in the taiga wilderness. A young aspen helped to get out of the situation, which had to be sacrificed for the sake of its own survival. Having hooked it under the threshold of the LuAZ and having found some dead wood, the car was successfully “pulled out” from the clay jaws, but the threshold was thoroughly bent. The idea came instantly - power thresholds. But not like those on “real” jeeps, which it’s better not to step on, but made of good steel and with powerful amplifiers mounted on the transverse side members. It was also thought out that they do not extend beyond the dimensions of the wheels, without interfering with movement in the rut. Beautiful, functional and reliable.
Suspension tuning: what can be done with LUAZ?
When considering the LUAZ, one should take into account the peculiarity of the layout, which is based on a strong displacement of the interior in front. Considering the light weight of the car, the front placement of the cabin provides good grip of the front axle with the road surface.
Suspension tuning may include the following points:
• To begin with, all fasteners that can be used in the future are restored. At the time of production of LUAZs, metal protection was not carried out. That is why almost all body elements can be subject to corrosion.
• Typically, this vehicle is used to create an SUV. That is why a suspension is installed, which provides high ground clearance and distance between the wheel and the wing.
• Before performing installation work, you should decide whether there will be a full or only anterior period. To transmit rotation to the rear axle, an intermediate element is installed, which determines the requirements for the suspension.
Today, companies that produce parts and structures for tuning offer the opportunity to purchase almost everything to create a new suspension.
Today there are several popular types of suspension:
1. MacPherson strut - a design that is based on the installation of a shock absorber strut. Today, this type of suspension is the most popular design option. This type of design is a modernization of the double wishbone suspension. The difference is that only one wishbone is installed. This type of suspension began to be installed relatively recently. Therefore, it can only be assembled when purchasing new spare parts or when disassembling a modern car.
2. Double wishbone design has been installed for the past few years. In this case, one of the levers is connected to the frame or subframe, and the second rests on the body. This type of design can cope with the damping of unevenness with high efficiency. You can assemble this suspension yourself, or you can purchase it almost completely assembled after dismantling damaged cars.
3. The rear independent system is designed so that both wheels can rotate independently of each other. This option is most suitable for SUVs as it provides better traction when driving on rough terrain. As practice shows, such a car is much easier to drive, it is more stable on the road and has increased cross-country ability. However, when installing this structure from the front, you need to be prepared for periodic repairs, since it is very susceptible to environmental influences.
4. The dependent system is often represented by a beam-bridge. This design is characterized by a single axis, which is controlled while the vehicle is moving. When driving over bumps, the impact of one wheel causes the load to spread throughout the entire structure. The advantage is high resistance to loads. An example is the installation of a dependent system, which is typical for American cars.
In general, we can say that dependent and independent suspensions are suitable for tuning in this case. The first ensures a long service life of the vehicle without complex repairs, the second – to increase the vehicle’s cross-country ability.
Body kit tuning: complexity of body work
In almost all cases, when tuning the car in question, an off-road SUV is created. This moment determines the features of the installed body kit:
• All excess is removed, which will allow the installation of large diameter wheels. Initially, R13 wheels were installed on the car, which makes tuning difficult by installing large wheels. This moment determines the installation of the wheels outside the body. As wheel sizes increase, the load on the brakes and other elements of the chassis increases, which is worth taking into account.
• If desired, you can create an open-top SUV. This option is very popular due to the fact that in the summer it will be very comfortable to drive such a car. The open top involves cutting off the main part of the roof, creating transverse arches for protection and rigidity. In addition, you can create a structure that, if desired, can be covered with a tarpaulin - a very practical choice for those who are going to tune the car for fishing or hunting trips.
• Body reinforcement is carried out using pipes and chevrons. An additional protective frame increases the rigidity of the structure. Therefore, its installation is carried out almost always. Create a reinforcing frame with your own hands. In this case, fastening to the body can be carried out either by welding metal or through detachable threaded connections.
• In order to be able to use the vehicle in poor off-road conditions, the main components must be protected. To do this, the crankcase protection and other elements are installed.
• Additionally, sills and a guardrail, as well as rear protection, are installed as body kit. The installed optics must also have increased protection from environmental influences.
• Very often the body is decorated by applying airbrushing. Paint and varnish work is quite difficult to perform, but if desired, you can do it yourself.
In many cases, body kits are made by hand, which can significantly reduce costs and make the car unique. Plastic, metal, or more expensive carbon fiber can be used as a basis for the manufacture of a body kit.
It is almost impossible to find and buy ready-made kits for this car.
Minor external improvements
It is quite difficult to spoil the unsightly appearance of this car - the angular body, similar to a matchbox, protruding headlights, the complete lack of an aesthetic component - all this testifies to the military past of LUAZ. It’s rare that anyone is involved in tuning the appearance of a LUAZ, but if it suddenly becomes necessary, you can use special programs for 3D tuning and online tuning.
If you wish, you can completely cut off the entire top of the body and weld something of your own in its place. Here the top was replaced with a body from Zaporozhets:
Add to all this chrome-plated running boards, front and rear protection, and the little LUAZ will get a slightly aggressive appearance.
Which LUAZ brand models are tuned more often?
The LUAZ family of Soviet passenger-and-freight passenger cars is represented by one basic model, as well as several of its modifications, which are partially different from each other. That is why, when considering which models of a given manufacturer are modernized most often, we note the following:
1. LUAZ-969 – the basic version with which the production activities of this company began. This model was produced from 1971 to 1975, it has all-wheel drive with the ability to connect the rear axle. In addition, there is a rear differential locking function.
2. ZAZ-969V, LUAZ-969V - an earlier version, produced from 1967 to 1972. The cross-country ability of this car is low due to the fact that the drive is exclusively front-wheel drive. In addition, the design is characterized by the presence of a power take-off shaft.
3. LUAZ-969A was produced from 1975 to 1979. This model is an upgrade of the basic version, the engine in this case is 1.2 liters and has 40 hp. This model was produced in a small batch, which determines its relatively small distribution.
4. LUAZ-969M was produced from 1979 to 1996. This proposal has quite a lot of features: separate brake drive, updated exterior and interior features.
It is also worth considering the appearance of several related cars with the models in question. An example is LUAZ-1301, LUAZ-2403 and LUAZ-1302.
As practice shows, few people pay attention to the exact labeling of the car they come across. This is due to the following points:
1. In some cases, there are no documents, since old LUAZs for many are just rusting metal. This point should be taken into account when considering the difficulties that may arise during the official registration of a car.
2. The exterior of almost all modifications of the car in question remained unchanged. That is why many consider LUAZ as one model. In addition, a fairly large number of cars are purchased after tuning. In any case, if restoration is not carried out, then almost everything must be removed.
3. Which model was chosen for tuning is only important if it is being completely restored. Otherwise, almost all components, including the engine and transmission, must be removed due to low performance and poor technical condition, low potential for the development of basic qualities.
4. LUAZ is always remembered with a positive accent only because of its high cross-country ability. That is why most often only the 969 model or its modifications are considered for tuning.
A fairly large number of problems at the plant, which was producing the car in question, determined not only the small production series, but also the lack of alternative proposals.
To whom is war, and to whom is mother dear?
It was thanks to the military operations in Korea, into which the Soviets actively poked their communist nose, that this development appeared. NAMI received an order from the very top to create utilitarian transport for the needs of the army. Bobik, GAZ 69, did not suit the armed forces. It was good as a command vehicle, but it was of no use on the battlefield.
Too large dimensions, disproportionately low power, very limited cross-country ability. The institute received an order to develop a lightweight and compact all-terrain vehicle with high suspension with amphibious capabilities and adapted for landing operations.
That is, it could be thrown out of an airplane by parachute and the car was immediately ready for work. There has never been such mobile equipment in the union; specialists from the Zaporozhye Kommunar plant and the team of the new Lutsk Automobile Plant actively joined the project. Based on the test results, the engineering group under the leadership of the outstanding designer and engineer Boris Fitterman prepared the LuAZ 967 by 1961, which became the basis for the entire line of Lutsk all-terrain vehicles.
Which studios can do LUAZ tuning?
It is worth considering the fact that today not many companies specialize in providing tuning services for cars that were produced in the post-Soviet space. That is why you should contact well-known tuning studios and ask whether the company can undertake the work.
In this case, we will pay attention to the following studios:
1. VinilStyle is a company that provides services for modifying cars by reupholstering the interior, laminating the surface, and performing soundproofing of the interior. The studio takes its work responsibly, developing individual designs. Waterprinting is a unique technology used to decorate the interior of a vehicle.
It is used to give certain materials decorative properties similar to those of aluminum, wood or carbon. Almost all tuning fans are familiar with airbrushing today. Many people regard the application of drawings on a car body as an art, since only true professionals can perform such work. Auto vinyl is a special coating that protects the paintwork of a car. The film used is also suitable for decorating the body. It is also applied to individual elements of the exterior, for example, a bumper or optics. A special manufacturing method makes the applied material virtually impervious to environmental influences. These and many other services are provided by the studio in question at a high level of quality. It is located in Tyumen.
2. TUNING ATELIER ERMOLA AND SONS - another studio that provides a wide range of services. An example is external tuning, which involves installing a body kit, changing the body and carrying out other work on the body.
When considering external tuning, you should pay attention to the possibility of applying airbrushing or painting the car in an attractive color. In addition, the company is engaged in internal tuning, as well as interior restoration. The company has a section regarding retro tuning. A sufficiently long period of operation of the studio is determined by extensive experience, as well as the high quality of the services provided.
You should always be careful when choosing an atelier, since the cost of the services provided and many other points depend on it.
In which stores can you buy tuning parts?
The fact that the car was discontinued several decades ago makes it difficult to find the required parts for tuning. However, the high popularity of this model has led to the emergence of various services for selling parts. The following companies sell spare parts for LUAZ:
1. ZAZ-LUAZ is a store that specializes in selling parts for the brand in question. It is worth noting that the company allows you to buy what you need for ZAZ-966, LUAZ-969, ZAZ-958, provides a fairly large selection and reasonable prices. The store provides free delivery of completed purchases, and the goods can be delivered to the CIS countries, Europe or even the USA. A system of discounts has been introduced for regular customers, which allows significant savings on car restoration or tuning work. The store has a wide range of parts that you practically cannot find at other sellers. When looking for a store that specializes in selling parts for the brand in question, it’s worth paying attention to this.
2. OLX is a fairly large service that is associated with the sale of tuning parts. Among the advantages of this project is the presence of a flexible search system that allows you to filter all offers. In the above list, applications may concern both original parts and those produced by tuning kit companies. Today, online shopping has become very widespread, but in the case of car parts, you should be careful, as significant difficulties may arise with returns. Therefore, before purchasing the selected parts, you should check their exact name, basic linear dimensions, thread pitch and many other parameters. In the age of modern technology, it has become possible to solve the problems that arise with the purchase of the required parts, since many can be delivered from another country and will be cheap. It is not difficult to guess that a car from the Ukrainian automobile industry will be in greater demand in this country, and the best offers will also come from stores registered in Ukraine.
Expert opinion: how to get an off-road SUV?
Sergey. I am passionate about fishing; it is simply impossible to get to some places in my sedan. That is why I decided to make an off-road SUV with my own hands. I thought for a long time about which car to take as a base, I chose LUAZ. I remember how the old people said that the car of this brand had the highest cross-country ability. It was hard to find, but I found it in good condition, rebuilt it, and there are no problems with going fishing.
Vitaly. Once I saw this car in a friend’s yard, all covered in rust, practically nothing alive. I asked what he wanted for it, he said, just take it, transportation is your problem. I found a carriage with a crane, they came, picked it up and brought it to my home. It was a lot of work, but the frame was in relatively good condition. My friend was surprised at what I was able to do six months later from a piece of unnecessary rotten metal - an open-top SUV, super cross-country ability, just right for rural areas in the summer.
Dmitriy. All LUAZs were previously characterized as off-road vehicles. But it is worth considering that to this day they have reached a very deplorable state. The choice can be made in favor of this car only if you need a durable frame. The rest, almost everything, will have to be changed.
Grigory. I was engaged in tuning domestic cars for quite a long period. Among all the models, I chose LUAZ to start with. This choice was justified by the fact that after tuning I wanted to get an SUV with increased cross-country ability and a small wheelbase. It only cost me 50 bucks and was in pretty good condition, but I still had to replace almost everything.
LuAZ 969 Lunar “SNEG” › Logbook › Memz engine repair. Continuation. Head repair.
Greetings to all who have come.
I continue to work on repairing the memza, I will post a report on what has been done. I’ll say right away that it sucks to do something without having the right specialist at hand. tool, since you have to constantly invent something from what is at hand, this takes a lot of time and the repair process is drawn out. So the task was to dry out the valves, wash the heads, clean everything possible, especially the inlet and outlet channels. It took half a day to invent a puller (pictured) - one of its final versions.
When it became clear that all this was bullshit, I went the old proven way - a hammer, knobs and sockets from a set. He placed the head under the valve, with gentle blows from the top of the hammer through the extension with the head, struck the crackers and the upper plate, and only then, using an improvised handle, squeezing the springs, he calmly removed the crackers and springs.
The process began and after about 15 minutes I had desiccated everything.
As a result, I found 2 internal springs broken, the breaks were not fresh, which means they did not burst while removing the crackers.
The channels were not very dirty, but I still had to spend a lot of time on them about this a little later. In order not to wash my hair with gasoline and inhale its fumes, I decided to use kitchen chemicals. From the 4th time, more or less, not everything went sour, of course I “burned” my hands with this chemistry.
In general, there is a lot of work with heads and you have to devote a lot of time to them. This includes restoring the studs of the exhaust pipes, cleaning the intercostal spaces and washing the entire head, drying out and grinding in the valves, replacing sagging springs, cleaning the intake and exhaust channels, seats... cleaning the pusher tubes, grinding, and I haven’t yet changed or pressed out the valve guides... generally brrr...
In the evening, having played enough of “Moidodyra”, I went through my supplies, dug up the valves, chose the ones I liked, markings on the exhaust AK-7 and AK-3, on the inlet with the internal AK 10. A little oil and in the guides, of course there is production on them, but it’s still small resemble.
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Let's sum it up
The brand in question once became an excellent choice for areas with poor traffic. That is why many who saw the last period of LUAZ production pay close attention to this model. Poor technical condition means that when choosing cars produced under the brand in question, you will have to carry out a lot of work: removing corroded metal, all unnecessary units, installing new equipment, and so on. In the case when, after tuning, you need to get an SUV with a short wheelbase and high cross-country ability, this choice will be a good one.
If it is possible to buy a LUAZ for little money and in fairly good condition, then this car can become an excellent object for tuning. I am definitely glad that today you can find more parts for many LUAZ models in specialized stores and order them with delivery to your garage.
In some cases, this will significantly speed up repairs, as well as reduce the size of the allocated budget. Online retailers often ship parts directly, which reduces costs and speeds up delivery.
