Truck engine GAZ-33104
"Valdai" is equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine "D-245.7". Its main technical parameters:
Engine D-245.7
- engine displacement reaches 4.7 liters;
- piston stroke – 125 mm;
- maximum possible power – 122 hp. With.;
- torque – 422 Nm;
- cylinder size – 110 mm;
- the maximum possible motor frequency is 2400 rpm;
- at maximum rotational force - 1500 rpm;
- motor dimensions – 948x698x970 mm.
The efficient operation of the Valdai engine is ensured by the presence of a turbocharger with an intercooler in its design. A special feature of this series of engines is the presence of modern electronics. This is a microprocessor fuel injection system and others.
GAZ-33104 Valdai cars comply with Euro 1–4 environmental standards. Every year it is improved, which allows us to achieve the required parameters and meet regulatory requirements. The engine has a wide range of features:
Engine D-245.7 - power system diagram
- turbocharger;
- gear pump;
- oil pump;
- starter;
- fuel pump;
- generator;
- diesel fuel supply system.
The GAZ-33104 truck engine fits well in the engine compartment borrowed from the Gazelle. But we had to change the parameters of the front axle beam. In the lower part, the Valdai motor is protected by special trays. It is additionally covered with basalt mats.
The hood and engine compartment are equipped with a special coating with soundproofing properties. Thanks to this equipment and the presence of several glow plugs, the engine starts well in any conditions.
First impressions
No, well, “Valdai Next” does not in any way resemble any of the GAZ Group cars of the “Next” family. In appearance this is a previous generation Isuzu Elf. Or Hino 300. This is the impression you get when looking at the cabin. It is a cabover (which is rare for products of the Gorky Automobile Plant), and it is also imported. More precisely, stampings for cabins are purchased from the Chinese Foton, and in Nizhny Novgorod they are already welded and painted.
Actually, the inscription GAZ/Foton honestly flaunts on the doors, but GAZ is engraved in English letters on the front trim under the windshield. Overall, the model looks neat. A fairing is installed on the roof, although its usefulness is debatable.
We'll tell you why below. But the idea itself is clear - nevertheless, the van rises strongly above the cabin, increasing air resistance during the trip.
The superstructure itself is produced by the Novosibirsk SibEuroVen. Nothing fancy here: quality finishes, interior lighting, metal locking hardware and an aluminum step to get inside.
Due to the cabover cab and chassis from the previous Valdai (by the way, we wrote about its test drive in issue 6 (36) for 2022), there is plenty of space on the frame for installing various add-ons. Compared to the same “Sadko”, the installation site is 1.2 m longer.
The manufacturer claims a total weight of 6.7 tons. But, to be honest, when looking at the reinforced frame, one gets the impression of a much larger power reserve. For something, and this is what GAZ products are famous for, it’s not without reason that 1.5-ton GAZelles are loaded with 2-3 tons. So, obviously, Valdai Next will transport not the required 3.8 tons, but all 5.
The suspension is spring, as befits a truck. Rear drive axle with double tires. By the way, the all-season Kama Euro has a diameter of 17.5 inches. I wonder if I put more, will it do any good?
Tester: Alexey Shimanovsky, technical specialist for pre-sale preparation of equipment at Orion Motors LLC
“Then the height of the loading platform will increase. Many, on the contrary, put smaller and smaller wheels in order to lower the platform and give more volume, that’s the trend. What did the same Korean and Japanese manufacturers do before?
They put large wheels in front, and twelfth ones in the back, so that the platform was lower, the volume of the booth, accordingly, would be larger at the same height,” Alexey Shimanovsky, technical specialist for pre-sale preparation of equipment at Orion-Motors LLC, answers our thoughts.
It is he who will help us today in mastering the management skills of Valdai Next. But we’ll start full-scale tests a little later, but for now we continue to inspect the new product. They didn’t go crazy with the pneumatic braking system and installed Wabco. Here the disc brakes are “all around”, like on the Sadko Next. All the flaws came from the same truck.
You look closely at the frame, and it already has pockets of rust and chipped paint. In some places of bolted connections, “saffron milk caps” also appear. And this is a new truck, just a minute. Well, oh well, our consumers are already accustomed to such features of domestic products.
Anti-roll bars were installed on both axles, so that the loaded car should not roll to the sides. On the right side of the chassis there are air cylinders and an air filter. On the left side there is an 85 Ah battery in a closed box, a 125 liter fuel tank, and under the rear overhang there is a lockable tool box.
And again we return to the cabin. More precisely, it's time to look under it. It’s easy to fold it back; owners of similar delivery trucks from Fuso, Isuzu, Hino, etc. can do it right away. The well-known diesel Cummins ISF 2.8 with 133 hp firmware opens up to the eye. With. According to the manufacturer, in economy mode in the range from 1500 to 2500 rpm, the torque will be 353 Nm.
The engine is equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation system and complies with the Euro-5 environmental class. There is a particulate filter, and the Common Rail system automatically forces the owner to forget the way to gas stations with questionable fuel. Well, or prepare to invest in repairs.
The box here is essentially from GAZelle Next. This is a “6-speed” with a cable drive and torque transmission of up to 450 Nm, a clutch from ZF, bearings from SKF, synchronizers from Hoerbiger, cuffs from Rubena. Except that it’s not joystick switching, but the standard one for Valdai Next’s classmates.
Doors swing open 90°. There is a latch, so that when fully opened, a gust of wind will not slam the entrance. The cabin is three-seater, and the seat in the middle can be transformed into a table. Inside this table there is a niche for documents.
Power transmission "Valdai" GAZ-33104
GAZ-33104 Valdai gearbox - device
The GAZ-33104 transmission is designed using a gearbox from a GAZelle. It is additionally equipped with a highly efficient imported diaphragm clutch. The gearbox is five-speed. The crankcase is formed from aluminum alloy and is additionally equipped with stiffeners. The gearbox is highly durable and reliable. This is ensured by the presence of the gearbox connector in the vertical plane.
The gearbox operates efficiently despite the truck being fully loaded. It operates in the range of gear ratios from 6.55 to 1. When designing the rear axle, they took the mechanism used in the GAZ-53. There is a single-stage gearbox with a gear ratio of 2.4.
The truck's clutch is permanently closed. It has a single-disk design. Additionally equipped with a diaphragm pressure spring. The driven disk has a damper device.
Operation, maintenance and repair of GAZ 33104 Valdai
Other design features of GAZ-33104
When creating the GAZ-33104 Valdai, a frame from a classic 5-ton truck was used. Therefore, this car has a large margin of safety and can withstand overload quite well. The Valdai frame is assembled from side members, which are complemented by original brackets and traverses. The truck's springs are small-leaf, fastened with pins and earrings. All this ensures a smooth ride of the car, regardless of the weight of the cargo being transported.
Springs GAZ-33104 Valdai
The steering mechanism is equipped with a hydraulic booster. This ensures simple and comfortable truck operation. The car wheels can be turned at an angle of 45° if necessary. Thanks to this solution, the turning radius of the vehicle is 6 m.
Steering gear with power steering GAZ-33104 Valdai
A distinctive feature of the GAZ-33104 Valdai is the presence in its design of a pneumatic brake drive. The brake system mechanism is borrowed from reputable European brands, which guarantees its reliable operation in any conditions.
Pneumatic brakes GAZ-33104 Valdai
The truck differs from similar models in using the ISO standard for wheel mounting. There is a seat on the hub where the disk and nuts with washers are inserted.
About operation
Insert the ignition key. By the way, here it is a switch valve, like in modern European cars. Also with central locking control.
The seat can only be adjusted horizontally. There is simply no suspension or height adjustment. Drivers with long legs will not find it particularly comfortable. True, changing the tilt position of the steering column helps.
The parking brake handle is located to the right of the driver. There is also a cup holder and niches for small items. At the front there is a short gearshift lever.
On the front panel there is a 2DIN radio with Bluetooth connectivity, a tachograph, and a heater control unit. Under all this they hid a fuse box.
The driver sees the tachometer and speedometer readings in front of him. Between them is a digital display with indications of speed, temperature and other data.
The multifunction steering wheel is made of high-quality plastic, as is the dashboard. It does not play, however, on our copy for some reason it is not installed directly, which is confusing out of habit. The buttons on the left side of the steering wheel are responsible for multimedia functions, on the right - for cruise control and telephony.
Well, it's time to go. We're trying to get going. The clutch pedal moves easily, but there is a hitch when shifting gears. The first one simply doesn't turn on. Okay, let's move on from the second one.
“The engine is high-torque. The gear ratio itself is the same as on all trucks. The first speed is needed to move some very large load. In principle, we don’t need it for anything else, since the working gear is the second,” comments Alexey Shimanovsky.
You have to change speeds often. This immediately reveals the element of “Valdai Next” - the city. In fifth gear, the car travels at a speed of 50 km/h with 2100 rpm. When switching to 6th gear, the revolutions are reduced to 2000, and the speed increases to 60 km/h.
“Yes, the speeds are very short, the gear ratios. The shelf is located quite high, that is, the engine is more revving, the settings are more revving,” says our tester.
We're heading out onto the highway. We accelerate the car. In 6th gear we bring the engine to 2500 rpm.
“This is too much for him. In economy mode it is better to keep 2200 rpm. When you press the gas pedal, the engine accelerates smoothly. And so the cruising speed for it is 65 km/h. We accelerate to 70. The booth doesn’t seem to be too big, but you can feel the windage. The wind blows away. This motor is not designed for long-haul transportation. If you go empty, then the truck should fly up the mountain at 2200 rpm like a bullet, but with us it dies,” states Alexey Shimanovsky.
So it’s better to use Valdai Next in urban environments. From traffic light to traffic light, as they say. This is exactly what the box is designed for. Plus, on the highway you constantly have to steer at speed. Our tester explains this as a feature of all cars with front spring suspension: “We drive over on the right side, one spring bends, accordingly, the length changes, and the beam moves.”
After the test drive, we found out that the truck’s design provides two modes: economical and powerful. And, most likely, we used the economy option all the time. Therefore, we do not exclude that in the second mode the car will behave differently. True, fuel consumption will be higher.
Legends can be made about the maneuverability of Valdai Next. When you turn the steering wheel all the way, it feels like the truck is spinning around its tank. It's no joke, the turning radius is stated at 6.2 m.
There are no complaints about the braking system. It is responsive to the pedal, and the ABS reacts very correctly. There is also a traction control system. It is active automatically when the ignition is turned on, but can be disabled if necessary. This is what we took advantage of to try out the truck chassis in an unusual role for it - drifting.
Alexey Shimanovsky spun on a five-wheeler, throwing snow fountains from under the wheels and plunging those around him into a spellbound state. It's not every day that you see an 8-ton vehicle spinning around its axis in a controlled skid.
“The wheel spin is just crazy. When you put it into a skid, we get counter-steering, you control the gas and steering wheel to maintain the skid. This, of course, is not a car for drifting, but still turning the wheels helps,” our tester admires, turning the steering wheel and applying the gas.
By the way, despite the spring suspension, “Valdai Next” walks quite smoothly along the road. Compared to the same “Sadko Next” - heaven and earth. It doesn’t shake, and the sound insulation is at a decent level - you can talk calmly in the cabin without raising your voice. Engine noise is minimal.
The windshield washer nozzles were placed very well. They are located on the wipers, and the washer fluid falls directly on the radius of their stroke. But it doesn’t fly somewhere behind the cabin or on the sides.
I was very pleased with the visibility. The cabover layout allows you to see everything that is happening in front of you. Double side mirrors. The upper ones are electrically driven and heated, and the lower spherical ones must be adjusted manually.
Construction of the Valdai truck cabin
Cabin interior of GAZ-33104
The GAZ-33104 cabin is very similar to the one equipped with the Gazelle. They are almost identical. There are only minor changes in the design and appearance of the radiator grille and bumper (more massive, formed from three parts). The Valdai cabin has steps because it is higher than the Gazelevskaya. The mirrors of this truck are noticeably larger and are equipped with an electric heating system.
The vehicle cabin is very convenient and comfortable for passengers. The workplace is adjusted to the height and equipment of a particular driver. The steering column can move in different directions, which is very convenient. Such parameters provide maximum comfort when organizing trips over short or medium distances.
dimensions
The overall dimensions are optimal for moving around the city. But, at the same time, they are not an obstacle to transporting fairly large loads. Also, overall dimensions directly depend on the design of the cabin. The following modifications are available:
- single-row;
- triple;
- with a sleeping place;
- without a sleeping place.
When the cab is single-row, the GAZ-33106 Valdai has the following overall dimensions:
- wheelbase – 3,310 mm;
- width – 2,400 mm;
- height – 4,000 mm;
- length – 6,100 mm;
Add-on characteristics:
- width – 2,400 mm;
- length – 3,200 mm;
- height – 2,600 mm.
The curb weight of a vehicle with these parameters is approximately 4,030 - 4,100 kg.
The three-seat cabin has slightly larger overall dimensions than the single-row one:
- height – 4,000 mm;
- length – 7,760 mm;
- width – 2,400 mm;
The wheelbase is 4,000 mm.
Vehicle superstructure dimensions:
- height – 2,600 mm;
- length – 3,600 mm;
- width – 2,400 mm.
Overall dimensions of the cabin without a berth:
- height – 4,000 mm;
- length – 7,800 mm;
- width – 2,400 mm.
The width and length completely coincide with the corresponding parameters of other cabins. The dimensions of the superstructure are 5,100 mm. The wheelbase is 4,200 mm.
