Tuning the Niva Chevrolet engine - competently increasing engine power

Many Niva Chevrolet owners note one significant drawback of this SUV - the frankly weak technical performance of the engine. Having a considerable total weight, and considering that this is still an off-road vehicle, with a power of 80 hp. With. obviously not enough.

But this is not the final verdict for this car, because it is possible to refine the engine - tuning aimed at increasing power. Moreover, this can be done in several ways, or even use them all together to achieve maximum growth.

We increase engine power on a Niva Chevrolet with our own hands and correctly: we increase torque

Many of those owners who drive a Niva Chevrolet note one, but quite significant drawback on this car - the rather low final engine power. Due to the fact that the car has increased cross-country ability, its weight is quite large, and 80 “stock” horses are simply not enough.

The video below will tell you about the modification of the Chevrolet Niva engine:

But, despite this, there are several ways in which you can “refresh” your car, and specifically how to do this, read below in our article.

DIY DIY for Chevrolet Niva

For a very long time, domestic cars were considered, if not the worst, then far behind in technology.

After the premiere of the Chevrolet Niva, it became clear that the domestic SUV could be much better, and even more so if some improvements were applied.

Modifications to the Chevrolet Niva can turn this inconspicuous car into a serious SUV, and if you don’t conquer off-road conditions, but love the Chevrolet Niva, then it can be easily supplemented with useful functions and additional equipment.

Improvement options

Among the variety of possible modifications, you can find the right option for any car owner. The choice should be made depending on what you want to achieve from the Chevrolet Niva. Do-it-yourself modification is possible for almost any vehicle components and assemblies. The most popular modification options:

• Refinement of the brake system.
• Upgraded cardan shafts.
• Refinement of the Niva Chevrolet stove.
• Ladder and roof rack.
• Upgraded driveshaft.
• Next, we’ll look at the most interesting improvements to the Chevrolet Niva in more detail.

Ways to increase engine power on a Niva Chevrolet

Among all the possible options for increasing power in a car, three are ideal specifically for the Chevrolet Niva:

1. Replacement and installation of new engine parts, which are analogous in their functionality, but with a different geometry. In other words, from exchanging “stock” spare parts for tuning ones .
2. Installation and installation of the turbine .
3. chip tuning .

All of the above methods, not only together, but also individually, can add power to the engine, but also increase all its characteristics.

Installation of tuning spare parts

If we talk specifically about this step, then the replacement will first of all affect the elements of the crank mechanism (crank mechanism) and the piston group. Installation of new tuning elements will increase the engine displacement and, as a result, its power.

1. The first step is to increase the diameter of the liners on the inside of the liners by boring it.

Everything is ready for further installation.

All that remains is to put on the rings.

Thanks to such manipulations, it is possible to increase engine capacity from 1.7 to 1.9 liters, respectively.

An increase in engine capacity will undoubtedly entail the need to increase the volume of the supplied fuel-combustible mixture.

"Head"

To do this, you need to tune the “head” of the engine, specifically the boring of the exhaust and intake windows, as well as replacing the standard valves with similar ones, but lighter and larger in diameter.

As they say, compare the difference.

At the end of such work, changes should be made to the exhaust system by increasing the diameter of the pipes, as well as replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester.

Carrying out all the above work will, of course, entail the need to adjust the fuel supply, since more of it will be required, the standard level will simply not be enough, and the car will not be able to properly perform its work.

Turbine installation

Another method that can be used to increase engine power is to install a turbocharger. This method will not only increase power, but also add torque. Thanks to this method of tuning, filling the cylinders with air will occur much better and faster, and this will increase power.

Please note that the choice of turbine should be approached most carefully, because a product of poor quality will not only not please the new owner, but may also not show all the capabilities of the expected performance.

Engine tuning with the installation of a turbine can increase engine power by up to 30% of the nominal, and at the same time, consumption will even decrease due to the highest quality fuel combustion in the system.

Correct engine chip tuning

This method is not only the least expensive of all presented, but also from a technical point of view the safest. This can be said only because no mechanical elements are operated or corrected during operation.

The whole highlight of such processing lies in the adjustment and periodic replacement of software for the control unit, which regulates the operation of the fuel system.

I would like to note the fact that when changing (firmware - approx.) ECU parameters, you can achieve changes in various indicators, such as an increase or decrease in fuel consumption, dynamics and engine power, as well as achieve their optimal ratio in equal proportions.

Such a “chip” of the engine will allow you to achieve an increase in power by 15% , without making any changes to the design.
However, such a modification also has its drawbacks, because such an increase in power will increase the load on the parts, which can reduce their overall service life.

Tuning Niva 4x4: photo and video reports of work

Turbine on a Chevrolet Niva

A turbine is one of the possible options for increasing engine power on a Niva or Niva-Chevrolet. And this option was implemented in our service. The result is on video. The turbine blows, the car drives, the client is happy.

Niva on 31 Mud-Terrain wheels

Another off-road fighter has left the Niva-Profi service center. With such modifications, you can safely take mud baths..

Niva 21214 tuning Off-road

Niva should be like this! Off-road tuning - a significant increase in off-road capabilities! Niva is pleasing to the eye..

Removable (portable) winch on Shnivy, snorkel, breathers

To overcome liquid off-road conditions, the Chevrolet Niva urgently needs a snorkel and breathers located under the hood. And the winch gives you confidence that even in the most difficult conditions you can remove the car from its mud captivity.

Another off-road fighter. Everything you need.

We pumped up the Niva. We have finalized and installed everything necessary to confidently overcome off-road conditions.

Lapter wheel arch extensions installed on Niva Urban

The difficulty of installation is that it is necessary to trim/adjust the extensions to the Urban's plastic bumper

Portable winch and off-road tuning in the field

We performed off-road preparation and installed a portable winch on the Niva

Carefully built a 12000 Lb winch into the standard Chevy Niva bumper

They hid the winch behind the standard Chevrolet Niva bumper

We installed a pneumatic block from Izh-Techno in the rear axle of a Chevrolet Niva. Watch the video.

The most effective and comfortable cross-axle differential lock is installed in the rear axle gearbox. Connects as needed from the interior with the press of one key. When driving on civilian roads it does not show itself in any way. Rating: excellent.

Beating in the brake pedal on a Niva Chevrolet. Why? Let's watch the video..

Useful video about the reason for the brake pedal beating when braking on Niva and Niva-Chevrolet

Tuning Niva, Niva Chevrolet

Many Niva and Chevrolet Niva owners sooner or later think about improving some of the qualities of their car. This could be something minor - aimed, for example, at changing the appearance (decorative thresholds, ventilation trims, spoilers, deflectors, fly swatters, etc.), or it could be something very serious related to changing the design of the car, modification transmission components, engine, suspension...

Regarding SUVs, and it is this category that the Niva and Niva Chevrolet cars belong to, questions most often arise regarding the improvement of off-road qualities. We will try to cover this topic in more detail. Everything that will be written about in this article is based solely on our experience in tuning Niva cars, and we start from the tasks that our clients set for us.

So, off-road tuning. It all starts, as usual, with something simple. You buy a car and after gaining some experience in off-road driving (fishing, hunting), you understand that if you put on mud tires, which are tougher, and even larger in diameter, then the car will drive more confidently in the mud and will drive further. And if you install self-blocks, it will be even cooler... And this process is drawn out, because every round of tuning, every new modification gives an additional advantage on the roads, and this in turn causes a feeling of deep satisfaction in Nivavod.

Leaving the lyrics aside, let's try to highlight the main approaches to modifications of Niva and Chevrolet Niva cars:

1. Light. Includes: installation of high-quality engine protection and possibly gearbox; mud tires, perhaps a little larger than standard, for example 215/75 R15, but then a minimal lift will be needed; a screw self-block in the rear axle would not interfere; Well, upload another ECU firmware, because... The stock car doesn't drive very well...
2. Optimal. What many clients end up with: Suspension lift of about 5 cm; cutting arches; installation of expanders; mud tires 29-30 inches; replacing the main pairs in the transmission with 4.3 or 4.44; blocking in axles, at least in the rear; power bumper + winch; snorkel; breather output; engine firmware, at a minimum, at a maximum, an increase in engine volume with accompanying modifications; It is also possible to install an expeditionary trunk with a chandelier...
3. Hard. Everything that is cooler than described above: Extreme wheels from size 31 and uphill; strengthening everything that can be strengthened; clear modification of the engine; deeper modification of the transmission, etc.

It must be said that the third approach is not often chosen; as a rule, these are people keen on competitions or extreme off-road expeditions. For a fisherman, a hunter, or for weekend off-road rides, the improvements listed in the second paragraph are more than enough.

Good luck off-roading! Best regards, Niva-Profi team.

Content

Immediately after the Chevrolet Niva went on sale, many began to note its main drawback - the frankly low technical performance of the installed engine. In order for an SUV to have sufficient cross-country ability, it must have not only high ground clearance and all-wheel drive, but also a high-torque engine. With a sufficiently large curb weight, the Chevrolet Niva is equipped with an engine with 80 hp. Small cars that are not intended for driving in difficult conditions have similar power and even more. All this has determined that many people are thinking about how to tune a Chevrolet Niva engine . Consider the features of such work in more detail.

Repair dimensions of cylinders and pistons of the VAZ 21213 engine during major repairs

Common ways to increase power rating

There are quite a few different methods of tuning internal combustion engines, many are aimed at increasing the power of the installed power unit. In the case of the Chevrolet Niva, power is most often increased. Common ways to increase engine performance are as follows:

• Turbine installation. Almost all modern mid- and high-class cars have a turbine engine. This relatively simple unit in design is capable of increasing engine power by a significant 20% of the nominal value. However, this tuning method has a fairly large number of features that are worth considering.
• In most cases, chip tuning is carried out. This kind of modification involves unlocking the full potential of the installed engine. However, not in all cases it is possible to increase engine power in this way, which should be taken into account.
• Factory components of the power unit are often replaced. Due to this, it is possible to eliminate all defects and imperfections that were made at the production stage of the vehicle.

Let's take a closer look at the most common methods of tuning a Chevrolet Niva engine.

Optics

The optics are worth special attention, and you can transform your headlights thanks to the special glow. Get GT Block Small reflectors and Hiper Flux yellow LED chips. Additionally, you will need black spray paint.

The procedure will be as follows:

You can use other options for localizing holes - it all depends on your imagination. LED strip can replace single diodes, so you will save time and effort.

Such tuning of a Chevrolet Niva with your own hands will allow you to save on energy consumption, extend the service life of lighting elements and increase brightness.

Replacement of factory components

In order to obtain significant engine performance and increase its reliability, the main factory elements are often replaced with more advanced ones. An example would be:

1. Modernization of the cylinder-piston group.
2. Modernization of KShM.
3. Carrying out boring of sleeves.

All of the above work makes it possible to slightly increase the volume of the combustion chamber, which leads to an increase in engine power.

In most cases, work begins with boring the inner diameter of the liners. Thereby:

• The combustion chamber increases.
• As the volume of the combustion chamber increases, the amount of fuel burned per stroke increases.
• The more fuel the engine burns, the more energy is released, which causes increased power.

Sidebar: Important: It is worth considering that after boring you will have to install new pistons and piston rings.
This is due to the fact that even a slight deviation in the size of the resulting gap between the piston and the surface of the liner becomes the reason why the engine will start to operate incorrectly. Due to the fact that new pistons and rings are needed, the cost of the tuning in question increases significantly.

What has changed with the arrival of the fuel-injected Niva?

To find out which Niva is better - carburetor or injection, first you need to consider the technical characteristics of both models.
So, let's start in order. Initially, the engine for the Niva was taken from the classic Zhiguli. This is the same engine, but with an increased volume of the combustion chamber. The first for a Soviet SUV was the 2121 engine with a displacement of 1580 cubic centimeters. A few years later, the car began to be equipped with a more modernized engine. The engine received the index 21213. This is a motor with a displacement of 1690 cubic centimeters. The power of the power unit is 83 horsepower. With this internal combustion engine, the car became more playful. Acceleration to hundreds decreased to 18 seconds.

In 2005, the Volzhsky Automobile Plant switched to injection engines. This change affected all VAZ models, including the Niva. So, the car began to be equipped with an engine with the index 21214. This is a gasoline unit with a volume of 1690 cubic centimeters. The engine power remained the same as the carburetor version - 83 horsepower. Acceleration hasn't changed either. But the car’s fuel consumption has decreased by one and a half liters.

Currently, Niva cars are produced with the 21214-28 engine. These are Euro 4 engines. The working volume of the internal combustion engine is 1774 cubic centimeters. Power is 92 horsepower, acceleration to hundreds takes 17 seconds, and consumption is no more than 10 liters.

At the moment, all Nivas are produced exclusively with injection engines. VAZ engines immediately began to use distributed injection, where each cylinder had its own injector. All mechanical elements have been replaced with electronic ones. An electronic control unit also appeared in the car.

In order for the injection engine to operate stably, it required the presence of sensors for air control, throttle position, and detonation. In addition, the device now has a crankshaft position sensor.

At first glance, the system seems complicated. However, it is not. Mechanically, the engine has not become more complicated. Instead of a carburetor, injectors and a fuel rail appeared, and the throttle valve was moved separately. Only a few electronic sensors have been added, on the basis of which the electronic control unit determines the mixture and ignition timing.

Expert opinion

Vadim. After I moved to Niva from a foreign car, it immediately became clear that the engine would need to be completed. The lack of traction in almost any gear determines that you cannot drive comfortably off-road, and the car will not perform well on the highway. I did the tuning in stages, starting with the simplest

Egor. I decided to install a turbine on the car in question. The increase in power is quite impressive, but I decided to increase the figure by installing new sports-type consumable filters and replaced the exhaust system. I will say that the difference between 80 and 100 hp. very big.

Dmitriy. Conducted a modernization of the standard engine. I’ll say right away that no amount of tuning will solve one problem - engines of domestic origin have low reliability, you have to constantly change and finish something.

Chevrolet Niva RAMMSTEIN › Logbook › Engine tuning 2123. Part 2.

For the next five days, 1-2 hours a day with breaks, I combined a walk in the fresh air with engine tuning. I couldn’t work for a long time because I was very tired and I couldn’t stay outside for a long time...

To begin with, I ground all the flanges of the 4-2-1 flow manifold on a grinding wheel.

I tried on the spider and the intake manifold to the cylinder head, there is absolutely no way to put a factory protective thermal shroud between them. Therefore, I took out the thermal tape I bought 4 years ago from the spare parts,

soaked it for an hour in warm water

and began to wrap the spider and pants. When the spider finished winding, there was about 1.5 meters of tape left, and I wrapped this piece around my pants as best I could.

The thermal tape was attached to the flow manifold using stainless binding wire.

I drained the antifreeze from the radiator, and drained as much as I could from the engine. I unscrewed the cylinder head bolts and removed it from the cylinder block.

Due to cleaning, pieces of carbon deposits and gasket remnants got into the cooling channels and into the antifreeze, contaminating it... I drained it from the pump side as much as possible, and pumped out the remains with a syringe. Now, in addition to oil, also fill in new antifreeze, oh my...

I took out the modified cylinder head,

wrapped spider and air manifold. I twisted the missing studs from the old cylinder head into the new one, put a counterbored gasket on the inlet/outlet and screwed the manifold to the new cylinder head.

Compare the combustion chambers in the modified cylinder head and in the factory one.

I installed a new Egorievsk cylinder head gasket on the cylinder block.

After installing the manifolds on the cylinder head, it began to weigh a lot, and together with my hyperfatigue from illness, it became completely unbearable... I called my wife to help, since I had to keep the timing chain taut and thread it through the cylinder head. Installed the cylinder head on the cylinder block, took new cylinder head bolts

and began to twist them according to the book.

After the first two steps, I was unable to tighten the bolts 90 degrees in the third tightening step, but only 45, and I was afraid that the cylinder head would burst, since the tightening force was unrealistically enormous. On the 4th step, the cylinder head bolts practically did not stretch; I set the torque wrench to 126 Newtons

and held out with fear, did not take any further risks...

Now it’s the turn to connect the pants with the spider. It is generally not possible to get to the connection point by hand, and because of the bends and thermal tape, it is impossible to put the head with an extension on either the bolt or the nut, and who knows how to attach the nut itself. For half an hour I tried to tighten at least one nut, out of four I could only tighten one slightly... I took off the wheel and still couldn’t get to it, my hands were too thick and wide. I called my wife to help, she has a thinner hand