Daring experiment: LADA 4×4 “armed” with a Toyota V8 engine
- July 20, 2023
- 0
An off-road enthusiast from South Africa seemed to have little factory potential of the LADA 4×4, which was delivered to the country in right-hand drive in the 1980s
An off-road enthusiast from South Africa seemed to have little factory potential of the LADA 4×4, which was delivered to the country in right-hand drive in the 1980s and 1990s. “Niva” and we often use it for tuning and modifications, but a mechanic from South Africa went the furthest. Based on a well-known body and very few parts left over from the original, he managed to create a true rear-wheel drive rally prototype.
For starters, he ditched the helpless original V4 and replaced it with a four-liter V8 from the first-generation Lexus LS. The option is not the most powerful, but it is one of the most reliable. Under the hood of the Niva, the power does not exceed 240 forces. However, this not only made it easy to find the right transmission, but also made it possible to run the engine in the red rev zone for long periods of time without worrying too much about overheating or stalling.
It remained only to give up the front axle and the “native” suspension for an advanced rally kit, and that’s it – you can shamelessly surf through all the open spaces.
It is quite understandable that the mechanic from Africa also had to abandon the front axle. If it had remained in place, there would be nowhere to put levers and bumpers of a reinforced rally, but at the same time an independent front suspension. So, in the true sense of the word, I had to cut the Niva’s front fenders. Fierce sport racks laced with Maxxis off-road tires, otherwise they just wouldn’t fit.
Not only the side windows and controls went under the knife. Almost everything has disappeared from the stock car. In fact every node has been changed. The author and executor of the project did not strive for speed. After all, the main thing is the ability to confidently crawl through the sand dunes.
For starters, he ditched the helpless original V4 and replaced it with a four-liter V8 from the first-generation Lexus LS. The option is not the most powerful, but it is one of the most reliable. Under the hood of the Niva, the power does not exceed 240 forces. However, this not only made it easy to find the right transmission, but also made it possible to run the engine in the red rev zone for long periods of time without worrying too much about overheating or stalling.
It remained only to give up the front axle and the “native” suspension for an advanced rally kit, and that’s it – you can shamelessly surf through all the open spaces.
It is quite understandable that the mechanic from Africa also had to abandon the front axle. If it had remained in place, there would be nowhere to put levers and bumpers of a reinforced rally, but at the same time an independent front suspension. So, in the true sense of the word, I had to cut the Niva’s front fenders. Fierce sport racks laced with Maxxis off-road tires, otherwise they just wouldn’t fit.
Not only the side windows and controls went under the knife. Almost everything has disappeared from the stock car. In fact every node has been changed. The author and executor of the project did not strive for speed. After all, the main thing is the ability to confidently crawl through the sand dunes.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
