Del Fuego's Lada

[Del Fuego]

Haha, it is coming along very slowly... in saying that I think I will have it finished up... well, useable finished anyway... for summer fingers crossed. Main issue has been trying to do things in small batches/quietly so my landlord doesn't get any more pissy phonecalls from the neighbours.

Rear guards are both heavily "trimmed", need a bit more welding yet to join em back together but mostly there. modified front bar/recovery/towing setup more or less bolted up.

Still need to get rear end recovery bits finished but half way there with that. And waiting on a mate to do the sill mods to fix the rust and strengthen that side of things up but on the home straight.

Still need to suss out the lift mainly cos I am too lazy/cheap to just get it sorted... in saying that I may have found some very cool rubber that may reduce the need for lift for the time being

[Hoodoo]

Don't forget the photos! I enjoy seeing what others have done, variations on a theme make Niva ownership interesting.
Regards,
John

[Del Fuego]

Ok, no actual progress but here are some pics because serious lack of Lada updates anywhere on here!

So, I have found a temp solution to my ugly sharp guard hacking... have riveted on some window seal, the old fabric style stuff from a van... I need to find something similar that is a bit wider for a more effective solution



Then while roaming around Pick a Part I spotted a spare wheel carrier on the back door of a Vitara and thought... that could solve my spare storage issue... so mounted it in the boot:



Probably should have taken a pic before I chucked a wheel on there (obviously not the actual spare I will be using haha)



there you go, boring update for the sake of an update... also had some airhorns arrive haha.



Oh... and I bought some new wheels/tyres that should work sans lift meaning I can use the bloody thing sooner rather than later... Pics:

[Hoodoo]

If the tyres will negate the need for a lift, that's the way to go. Lot less stress caused by components working outside design angles. Do the arches have to extend to cover the tyres? Try some old conveyor belt rubber cut to size, if you can get it!!
Regards,
John.

[Del Fuego]

no, rubber/guards don't need to cover tyres and I suspect the standard/non insane offset of the new wheel/tyre combo will minimize issues with tyre hitting the guard. I just want to minimize any cutting of the tyre/people but would be nice to get something that is a little deeper so the rivets hold a bit more solidly.

[zukmeista]

Does that mean you won't be wanting the wheels I sold you anymore?

[Del Fuego]

This could be the case, haven't decided yet but doubt I will need them ... I thought you had replaced them?

[lincooln]

I could be keen for them too. Just sayin'...

[Del Fuego]

I will see how these new guys fit up and if i can bear to be rid of the other ones I will let y'all fight it out

[zukmeista]

This could be the case, haven't decided yet but doubt I will need them ... I thought you had replaced them?

They will be good for a set of sand tyres, nice and wide.

[Del Fuego]

Went out and poked the lada with a stick today, fitted up the new rubber... it looks hilariously small after the other setup but looks like it will grip like crazy and everything has much more room... not to mention being significantly lighter.

Pics:







found some more rust... go figure...

I think I have fallen out of love with this whore

however I should probably just grab my balls and carry on lol

[nivaman]

What, you mean you haven't tried the tires in mud yet?.

[Del Fuego]

Haven't tried anything anywhere... hasn't moved from my driveway since I picked it up lol.

However after my little crisis of faith yesterday I had a call that perked me up, my mate is coming next weekend to replace the fcuked sills... so I drilled some more holes, front bar is now securely attached so it is once again towable which is half the battle (need to get it to the mud), 4 more holes will see the front recovery hooks ready to rock and roll then a little more ####### about will see the back finished off.

Also need to get on to trimming the bumpstops... whats the best tool for that, hacksaw? seems to take ages, got bored half way through one haha.

Still need to sell this bloody merc of mine and buy something more suited to towing... at least something with a towbar haha and will be most of the way there.

[coxsy]

[quote="
Also need to get on to trimming the bumpstops... whats the best tool for that, hacksaw? seems to take ages, got bored half way through one haha.
[/quote]
try a sabre saw best tool around for cutting stuff

[Del Fuego]

Are you suggesting I need to purchase more tools? Oh ok then.. twist my arm why don't ya! haha

[Del Fuego]

Oh, and to make up for my pictureless update...

what's the story with these, presumable/at a cursory look they can be replaced moderately easily? i.e. bolt off/on? if so who of you lovely parts hoarders has one laying about front right if it make any difference... left one is 100% mint... this thing is honestly possessed lol

Rusty McThingamywhatsit

[SP450andLE]

I'll take a look through my parts collection when I next can to see if I have any anywhere

[Hoodoo]

While the bumpstop cup is off, straight bolt off/on, make sure you clean and paint the chassis section behind it. They rust well there!
Regards,

[nivaman]

Oh, and to make up for my pictureless update...

what's the story with these, presumable/at a cursory look they can be replaced moderately easily? i.e. bolt off/on? if so who of you lovely parts hoarders has one laying about front right if it make any difference... left one is 100% mint... this thing is honestly possessed lol

Rusty McThingamywhatsit

Yes i have a few of those, i haven't seen any difference left or right, they do bolt on/off.
On a previous Niva i took off the top rubber bump stop altogether, seemed to have no problems with axles etc.

[Del Fuego]

So you are saying the aren't phenomenally structural or anything? I got concerned because it is pretty buggered and figured it could collapse if there is much pressure on it... I figure I should just swap it out for safety but would be nice if it is non urgent...

[nivaman]

So you are saying the aren't phenomenally structural or anything? I got concerned because it is pretty buggered and figured it could collapse if there is much pressure on it... I figure I should just swap it out for safety but would be nice if it is non urgent...

They do add extra support to the spring platform, the spring is captive anyway so you could (don't quote me) do away with it.

[Del Fuego]

Right, couple weeks off work means time to make some actual progress... house sitting my folks place... aka stealing their garage also helps.

So first I had to get the turd across town... first issue for some reason the trailer light/plug setup doesn't seem to work... well... 1 indicator works :/ despite the lights all working in the truck... oh well, problem for later.

Hook it up to the old mans truck and get to towing... odd, heavier than I recall plus truck is breaking traction... might just be the oddly slick damp road cos the wheels are definitely turning on the lada back there... hmmm... why is there smoke coming out of the wheels then?

Oh, I see:



That's not what I wanted to see :/

So pulled up in the bus stop of my old school and unloaded the tools (luckily I was taking them with me too haha)



Pulled off the front wheels, removed calipers, removed pads (bloody good system in the Lada, mega easy job thank fcuk!)... wow, they did get hot, pad material fused to disc... oh well, put everything back together sans pads, farm jack decides it doesn't go down any more... wtf?! get angry, hit base with sledge to drop the lada back to the earth and get back on the road.

Why is it making that clunking noise? Don't worry, that's just the guards eating my new tyres, happened so occasionally I didn't figure out what it was till I saw the big gauges in the tread :/

Finally got it home around midnight, but couldn't drive the piece up the right of way due to needing half hour of warm up and massive hole in exhaust waking up half the planet, gave up, went to sleep.

Got the lump into the garage the next morning and ignored it for a full day and gorged myself on xmas leftovers.

Today, made progress... front guards now hacked off to allow clearance, wish I had done that earlier...





Looking ok I think.

Then drilled some holes and mounted up some front hooks... not the 100% ideal spot for them but the best of the available options for now.





So, now I need to track down a caliper rebuild kit and some new front pads... anyone local likely to stock them or should I just order online and hope they turn up promptly?

[ladeda]

hahaha neva a dull moment when there is a lada around
I have a new front calipers seal kit you can grab, just replace it when you can, cheep as chips on ebay just takes ages to arive.
NZ brake company 4 brakes good and cheep just around cornr 4m my place.
10 Te Pai Place, Henderson (09) 836-6673

soon we shal have our day in the mud

[Del Fuego]

you sir are a legend, perhaps I can pop in on Monday and pick up the kit from you and seals from the brake people... actually, that's new years eve isn't it?

Hmm... are they open saturdays? Maybe PM me your address and leave the kit out somewhere so I don't have to bother you?

Chur

[zukmeista]

Good to see you are persisting with it, hope the tyres didn't get too munted.

[Hoodoo]

They are interesting vehicles, aren't they? And I overdosed mine with a mixture of Waxoil, engine oil and gearbox oil in the sills. STINKS like hell now!! Headache time after five minutes!!
Regards,
John

[Del Fuego]

I will post a proper update when I am not tempted to set truck on fire.

Progress is being made though... stripped out the calipers and replaced all the seals, which were a little buggered... not so bad though.

Went and picked up aforementioned seals from the indomitable Ladeda, who also just happened to have a spare master cylinder which I suspect is the actual problem... will swap that out tomorrow as the bolts are currently bathing in crc stuff as they are all rusted... are you surprised? :/

Chris (from over on OS) came over and finished welding my new "sill" into place, so that is looking well sturdy... also, I killed a spider and my hands are dyed black from the gloves I was wearing :/

Anyway while out west I spotted this thing (pics of this because it is nicer to look at than mine! haha) ;D













TOUGH!!!

[ladeda]

Im shure ive seen dat one around b4. The rims on it look mean.

anyway Im hating mine too, so over cutting, weldin, hammering and grinding. took all day to do one arch today so im feeling your pain man.

keep at it

[zukmeista]

That looks PHAT with those wheels on it!

[Del Fuego]

Ok, working fairly hard on this for the short time I have access to a garage so here's an update.

Thanks to Ladeda for the new caliper kit and replacement master cylinder, these are now fitted and bled and the brakes appear to function as intended... fingers crossed.

Unfortunately while replacing the master, sans thinking I pulled the CLUTCH master instead and proceeded to fill the system with air and had and absolute abortion of a time to get that bled up... finally got it functional again... wasted day pretty much, oh well, think first, then unbolt crap.

All guards are now trimmed up and tyres don't appear to rub... well the fronts rub very slightly on a chunk of chassis but not much I can do about that right now, can either not turn hard lock/ space wheels a bit/ live with it for now it is very minor.

Put a VERY VERY horrid patch on the massive exhaust hole, seems to have shut it up a bit... still leaking though... crackle crackle backfire haha, oh well, better than it was...

Fitted up 3 of the 4 tow hooks (need to go buy a 4th lol) but brackets/mounts are all fitted up. Still pondering bracing for these but will work as is i think for now.

removed the tints from rear window, I think the sides will be ok but it pisses me of not being able to see out the back. Also removed all the decals, stripes and stupid stickers that were on it.

Chris came over and welded in some fairly serious steel box section into what used to be my sill... i suspect it will be there when the rest of the truck is a memory haha

Cut out some more rust and jammed some patches in, covered in newtech and hit with flapper wheel... prep.. done! Like I said, just needs to be functional, not pretty.

Finally gave it a quick sand so I can throw some rust proofing paint stuff at it, more for protection than any particular aesthetic value so will see if that will stick tomorrowish...

/Wall of text.

Pics:













piss. just realised I need to build some replacement panels for the inner guard behind the front wheels, that's no fun :/