Tuning UAZ 469: advice from professionals

The UAZ 469 is an all-terrain off-road vehicle that entered mass production in 1970. Initially, the model was intended as an army transport for the rapid delivery of infantry to their destination, but after removal from service the vehicle began to be sold to the civilian population, with virtually no changes in design.

Today, live examples of the UAZ 469 are a budget option for off-road transport, which is why they are used for amateur fishing and hunting, as well as extreme tourism.

Content

1. Why UAZ 469? 2. Selecting the type of tuning and the preparatory stage 3. Tuning the interior 4. Changing the suspension 5. Exterior of the car 6. Engine tuning

Many people decide to highlight the anniversary car UAZ 469. This car is off-road, you can purchase a new one in the showroom in order to simplify tuning.

In order to evaluate the result of tuning, it is recommended to first take a photo before it is performed, and then after.

Do-it-yourself armrest for a car: the best ideas with examples

Suspension

When driving in difficult conditions, your pickup truck or regular Patriot SUV experiences serious loads that fall on the suspension. If the ZMZ 409 engine itself is still pulling, the suspension may not be able to cope.

There are several options here:

install reinforced axles with a reduced gear ratio;
change the rear suspension to spring;
many people lift the car, raising the ground clearance to the optimal level;
install wheels of greater width and height.

I see no point in going into detail. You can watch video instructions on YouTube, read reviews, look at pictures and photos of the manual. The work is difficult, but it can be done with your own hands.

Engine

The easiest and most dramatic way to change technical characteristics is to install a new motor. Although MD throttle tuning often saves the situation.

In general, to modernize the power unit without resorting to replacing it, the following solutions are used:

install zero resistance filters;
install a turbocharger;
grind the collectors;
modify the throttle valve to increase power and reduce consumption;
replace the original gaskets with cork ones;
install a camshaft with increased lift;
install a radiator with a larger area or a new cooler with better performance;
They put a snorkel on the roof to take air from a higher point.

There are craftsmen who can remove a ZMZ 406 or 409 on their own, and in its place install an Iveco engine running on a diesel engine. This is a very serious tuning option.

Why UAZ 469?

There are a huge number of SUV cars that can be modified. However, it is the UAZ 469 that is chosen by many connoisseurs of high-quality SUVs.

The reasons why you should choose this particular model include:

1. New models are equipped with a Euro-1 engine. This engine is simple in design, does not have an electronic gas pedal or a complex belt tensioning system. It is also worth noting the simple electronics that are installed in this model. All these features can be associated with the high reliability of such an engine, as well as the possibility of thorough tuning. 2. Old bridges have a good reliability indicator, and their design allows for modifications to improve cross-country ability or driving comfort. 3. The car was equipped with a five-speed gearbox, which ideally matches the installed engine. 4. The simple rear and front metal bumper will be replaced, but they will not add much to the value of the car. 5. Tailgate or door - many people ask themselves this question. If we consider this nuance, we can say that everyone’s preferences are different. Therefore, the type of rear door is not particularly important.

The cost of the car without various active options was almost 340 thousand rubles. This price is attractive, since some more investments will be made at the time of tuning. UAZ 469 tuning is the optimal choice for those who want to get a car with good cross-country ability, which will be unique.

Repair

Many owners of this car have personal experience in repairing 469. Indeed, the creation of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant has such a simple design that it was not difficult to carry out repairs with your own hands.

Remaking the lift or body and suspension is the most common do-it-yourself repair of a Soviet SUV. If the UAZ 469 conversion ends up in good hands, the domestic UAZ, once copied by Land Rover, will show everything it can do, leaving glamorous foreign cars in the dust.

Hence, it is customary to lift the UAZ with your own hands on the body and suspension. In particular, it is advisable to “plant” the UAZ in good tires, after first raising the body above the frame. The lift is manufactured using special body lifting technology.

Note. To lift the body off the frame, you will need to install special spacers between the elements (hockey washers, 2 for each of the 12 mounting bolts, have proven to be very effective).

The UAZ 469 suspension lift with your own hands improves the basic geometric capabilities of the all-terrain vehicle. This is due to the wheels and axle being stationary and everything else lifting at the same time as the dirt passes through.

Also, after tuning the 469 elevator, it became possible to install larger wheels, and this is already a very significant advantage.

In addition to its advantages, the elevator also has disadvantages. For example, a suspension lift will inevitably increase the angles of the suspensions, which will affect their rapid wear. If, on the other hand, it does not know how to perform the editing operation, the stabilizer may fail at any time.

Choosing the type of tuning and preparatory stage

Before carrying out work, it is worth noting for yourself what kind of car you want to get as a result:

Hunting version with increased cross-country ability.
An expedition vehicle that can be used to overcome difficult sections of roads.
Universal tuning that will allow you to use the car every day and for hunting or nature trips.

Work on changing the UAZ begins with the complete dismantling of everything that is not needed - standard wheels, bumpers, all interior decor, stove, and so on. Everything that remains after dismantling can be sold for reuse.

Prices for UAZ bodies of the 1st configuration

Body	Description	Seller code	Price	Weight
UAZ 315195	UAZ 315195 Hunter body (hinged rear door, injector harness)	3151-95-5000008-00	382,400 rubles	590 kg
UAZ 31512-061	UAZ body with awning, hard seats	3151-20-5000008-61	RUB 278,200	496 kg
UAZ 31514-84	UAZ body with metal roof, soft seats, trunk door	3151-40-5000008-84	333 5000 rub.	587 kg
UAZ 31514-85	Metal roof with hard seats, tailgate	3151-40-5000008-85	RUB 332,800	587 kg

Interior tuning

When purchasing a domestically produced car, many people pay special attention to the interior, as it is always made with terrible quality. When creating a project to change the interior, in this case it was decided to create a multifunctional hatch that would be useful when hunting or simply while traveling in nature off-road.

The created hatch, which was obtained by tuning the UAZ 469, has the following features:

1. Large overall dimensions immediately determine that the hatch is a hunting hatch. 2. The hatch has two positions: with minimal opening for ventilation and fully open.

When open, two guys in winter clothes can fit into the created opening. Therefore, this addition will be useful for a car that will be used for hunting or as an excursion vehicle. To prevent condensation from forming on the surface at the time of use, the hatch cover was insulated. When open, the hatch is fixed.

The interior improvement didn't stop there. In order to improve the sound insulation of the car, the doors and interior sides of the cabin were disassembled, and the tailgate was also disassembled. The resulting cavities were lined with vibration insulation and then sound insulation. After laying the insulating materials, the interior was trimmed with aluminum sheets. All knocks should be treated with sealant, the floor was also changed: instead of a turtle, it was made smooth. All domestically produced cars have a simply terrible degree of heat and sound insulation. It seems that the UAZ plant has never heard of insulating materials. After completing the work, the car will become warm, quiet, and vibration will be transmitted to a lesser extent from the road to the interior elements.

Another useful addition is the top shelf, which has become a place to store cards and other small items. The top shelf was made to accommodate various control keys and more. Thus, the front console was significantly unloaded.

The next change is the installation of another stove, which has more power and more outlets for heating the interior. It is worth considering that the car will be used in winter. Another addition that may not be carried out, but in our case was carried out, is to increase the number of cigarette lighter sockets to 3 pieces.

The finishing was not left without attention. The interior was taken from a Honda CRV. The changes made are as follows:

Leather trim. Despite many complaints, this material is quite durable and practical to use.
The front seats are heated, which is important for a car like this.
Good opportunities for transformation. It is worth noting that with proper placement of seats, you can achieve the effect when, during transformation, the interior turns into a sleeping bag.
It is the large range of adjustment of the rear seats in the longitudinal direction that allows full use of the hatch.
Rear passengers can ride with their legs fully extended in certain seat positions.

In addition, you can install the rear row seats so that the trunk volume increases significantly to accommodate luggage.

Signs of airing

If it is difficult to start the internal combustion engine, an experienced driver also checks the exhaust. If fuel gets into the engine cylinders, then even in the absence of a full start, smoke should come out of the muffler. It doesn’t matter what color it will be, the main thing is that it should be there, even if it’s barely noticeable.

Thus, if no smoke comes out of the muffler, this is the first sign of airing in the vehicle (fuel system). Fuel is not entering the engine, which means there is air in the system.

There are, of course, cases when smoke comes out, but fuel does not enter the cylinders. The exception is explained by the fact that the smoke that remains in the system comes out. To insure against such a situation (although it occurs rarely, it is possible), it is recommended to keep the starter longer - about a minute without a break. This time is quite enough to fill the exhaust system with smoke.

If air gets into the vehicle, then some peculiarities arise in the operation of the car. For example, problems with startup may appear constantly, for several days, or may not appear for a long time. Of course, this directly depends on the strength of air suction.

Here's what else happens:

after starting, the engine trembles, shakes, the entire operation of the engine can be assessed as extremely unstable;
the engine starts well “when cold”, but as soon as it warms up a little, failures begin, right up to a stop;
the engine does not start at all (this happens in neglected conditions, when air is already sucked in in large quantities).

Suspension change

If we consider UAZ 469 tuning, we can take into account that it is possible to improve comfort while driving by changing the suspension. Despite the good cross-country ability and reliability of the domestic version, the Australian company DOBINSONS produces the best kit specifically for the UAZ.

When replacing the factory set of springs with a set from an Australian company, you can count on the following:

1. Suspension play and additional 5 centimeters of clearance. 2. The car's behavior on the road is significantly improved. 3. Increases comfort while driving.

This change is quite expensive and time consuming, but it is worth it.

Transportation of dangerous goods by road according to the rules

Let's consider the main ones:

Replacing the exhaust pipe or installing a cover on it. I do not recommend making a noisy exhaust, as this is unethical towards people. The sound should be beautiful, not loud. Therefore, trims that change the sound of the exhaust will add innovation to the appearance and affect the sound perception of the SUV. The topic of the exhaust system deserves special attention;
Radiator grille. Can be completely replaced or slightly modernized. You decide. Keep in mind that when replacing or tuning, the air flow to the radiator must not be disrupted, otherwise the engine will constantly overheat;

Installing a roof rack. An excellent solution that adds advantages to the appearance and practicality of the machine;
Complete replacement of bumper or body kit. Various body kit variations are available for the UAZ Patriot, which can be purchased in Russia via the Internet or in stores available in your city. Do not use cheap plastic imitation of expensive materials. This will only ruin your car. Buy a high-quality, original body kit. Installing it yourself is quite easy;
Kanguryatnik. Relevant for those who think about safety and want to make their appearance even more brutal. This is not just a tuning element, but a thing that really helps in road accidents and accidents;

Painting and decorative overlays, moldings. The assortment is simply huge. Some people even decide to do airbrushing, which I really like. Although it is impossible to do it yourself;
Glass tinting. Simple, quite cheap, but interesting.

Many who want to change their SUV themselves stop at the exterior and interior. Although there are those who go further, interfering with the design of the engine, suspension and more.

Car appearance

Complete tuning of a car cannot be done without changing the appearance.

In this case, the following changes were made:

1. Considering the purpose of the car, special attention was paid to the light. Additional lighting has been installed taking into account the best location: the front part of the bumper gives the best view to illuminate the road. Also, high beam and work lights are installed on the expedition trunk. 2. Also, special attention should be paid to what wheels are installed. In order to increase cross-country ability, you should choose wheels with good tread and a large diameter. An option with dimensions 285x75x16 is ideal. 3. In order to protect your car, you should think about installing a rear and front winch. When choosing, it is recommended to pay attention to the U4x4 option, which has proven itself well. 4. To strengthen the body structure, a power body kit is installed. UAZ 469 body tuning is carried out with the installation of reinforced thresholds, a front bumper with a platform for an already selected winch and a grille with arches, which are necessary for quickly securing the cable. 5. Special protection for steering rods can be an important addition. When overcoming certain obstacles, it is the steering rods that suffer the most. 6. Side windows are often protected by bars. If the car will only be used off-road, protection can be installed on the rear and front windows. If the SUV is driven in urban conditions, such protection will significantly worsen the degree of visibility. 7. The rear of the car is modified using the OJ universal bumper, which combines a huge number of functions. So, when installing it, you can count on the presence of the following elements: platforms for the winch and hi-jack, a bracket for attaching a removable tow bar, a backlit frame and good license plate protection.

Body tuning can significantly increase the car’s protection from external influences when driving off-road. It is worth noting that some little things, such as additional lighting, can significantly improve traffic safety. Some body modifications also require electrical upgrades and other work.

Refurbishment or replacement

ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline! Read more". In comparison with restoration operations, replacing the body looks like a much more reasonable and sober decision

To carry out competent repairs, you need to know the specifics of the work, have high-quality equipment, etc. If the repairs are carried out at a service station, you will have to pay a lot of money, and a well-worn body is unlikely to be restored so that it will last for several years

Compared to restoration operations, replacing the body looks like a much more reasonable and sober decision. To carry out competent repairs, you need to know the specifics of the work, have high-quality equipment, etc. If the repairs are carried out at a service station, you will have to pay a lot of money, and a well-worn body is unlikely to be restored so that it will last for several years.

On the other hand, replacing the body is also not an easy operation, no matter how it may seem at first glance. One of the most complex types of restoration from a technological point of view, involving the reinstallation of a metal frame - this is exactly what this type of work is called.

The UAZ body is most often replaced in case of serious defects resulting from severe accidents or serious accidents. In order for its replacement to be successful, it is customary to use numerous equipment and tools.

It is advisable to carry out body replacement in a specialized car service center. As a rule, the full range of services is provided here, including paperwork.

It is worth knowing that the car body is made of several elements. These parts can either be replaced individually or in combination with other body parts. So, after an accident, in most cases only part of the frame suffers. You can replace only the front or rear part, thereby saving on replacement costs.

In addition, body parts such as sills and fenders are often damaged during an accident. You can replace them yourself; no re-issuance of documents is necessary.

Model	Equipment	Weight, kg	Price
UAZ-3741 Loaf	Complete van (solid)	592	313 thousand rubles
Glazed van	768	329 thousand rubles
UAZ 3962 nurse	Assembled, with soft seats	765	344 thousand rubles
UAZ 2206	Assembled, soft seats, table, bus	768	356 thousand
UAZ 3909 Farmer	Assembled	768	337 thousand rubles
UAZ 3163 Patriot	Assembled	750	478 thousand rubles
Roof Hunter	For swing doors	83,9	67 thousand rubles

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Engine tuning

Carrying out engine tuning is a responsible step. Despite the fact that the engine initially has very good performance, many people decide to make changes to the engine.

You can perform UAZ 469 engine tuning as follows:

1. The piston is one of the most important elements of the engine, the modernization of which will lead to a significant change in the operation of the entire engine. When looking for pistons, you should pay attention to forged options, and rings - from proven and popular manufacturers. 2. It is not recommended to change the timing belt, since its incorrect selection and installation can lead to a completely undesirable result. 3. Changing the intake and exhaust manifold is a typical tuning for the car in question. First, you should eliminate the formed steps between the heads and the collectors. The “teeth” should be removed inside the collector channels. This change will cause the engine to breathe more freely and the cylinders will fill evenly. 4. Native carburetors are distinguished by the absence of EPHH. A good replacement that is quite popular is DAAZ-4178. 5. The air filter can also affect engine performance. Many people decide to replace the filter with the “Volgov” version. Using such a filter, you can prepare a platform to reduce the resistance of the exhaust tract. 6. The cooling system also leaves room for improvement. Considering the fairly high loads that can occur when driving off-road, you should purchase a radiator from the SHAAZ plant. It has the best heat transfer rate. You can also install additional fans that will turn on when the temperature is high. 7. A hotter thermostat will improve the operation of the stove and make it warmer. 8. The exhaust system is represented by a standard muffler, which is recommended to replace the resonator from the Gazelle. 9. Electrical equipment can also be changed. Recommendation for all owners - it is worth installing a generator from GAZ 53.

Many people recommend a complete replacement of the engine, as it will cost much less.

In conclusion, we note that by making such changes you can get a practical, well-thought-out car that is suitable for everyday use and for off-road driving.

What to consider when replacing the UAZ Bukhanka stove fan

The fan housing in the SUV family is designed to direct the flow of outside air to the heater core and further into the cabin through the air duct system and deflectors. The standard impeller turns out to be ineffective due to the presence of rather large gaps (about 1.5 millimeters or more) between the fan blades and the walls of the housing. The features of the original impellers are such that it is almost impossible to reduce this gap. The fact is that the fan on the side where the electric motor is located has a belt, which is designed to hold the blades together, but not along their leading edge, like most stove fans, but along the outside. Because of this, modification of the gap becomes impossible. At the same time, the blades themselves are made as if they were unknown to the wind tunnel: with large curvature and the presence of axial/radial runout, which manifests itself after a short period of operation of the car. Moreover, the motor itself is so heavy that special legs are used to mount it.

In addition to the above, when modifying the UAZ Bukhanka stove fan, the following important nuances must be taken into account:

In order for the heating system to operate as efficiently as possible, the stove radiator must be installed so that it is located below the upper level of the coolant line. It is also necessary to ensure that the system is always 100% filled with antifreeze - otherwise, each percentage shortage will be proportional to the same level of decrease in temperature in the cabin. In Bukhanka, to do this, you need to make the cooling system circuit closed by moving the atmospheric valve from the neck cap of the main radiator to the cap of the expansion tank, which is the top point of the cooling system (this scheme is used, for example, on the Gazelle, VAZ V8, Moskvich 2141);
when replacing a fan, preference should be given to the centrifugal option, which is much quieter;
the motor with the impeller should be located before the heater radiator, which will improve air heating and also help reduce the noise level when the motor and impeller operate;
it is necessary to ensure the passage of air through the heater cells solely due to the pressure pumped by the fan, and not due to the kinetic energy of the air flow. In other words, fan blades should not drive air directly onto the honeycombs, since in this case turbulence is formed that prevents uniform heating of the air;
it is also necessary to modify the temperature control system for the coolant supplied to the cabin. Instead of a faucet, you should use a damper that will mix cold and hot flows in the required proportion. When such adjustment is carried out by a faucet, your options will be limited, since the thermal regime will depend on the temperature of the power unit;
the most comfortable microclimate assumes that the higher temperature is concentrated in the area of the feet of the driver and passengers, not reaching the lower back. The air at face level must be cool, otherwise drowsiness occurs, which is unacceptable for the driver. Alas, according to the laws of physics, all processes proceed exactly the opposite: warm air tends upward, and cold air concentrates below. This means that the leg area can only be heated by force, by directing warm air into the area. In this case, cooler air should blow into the upper part of the body, and again hot air onto the windshield. Reducing the temperature of the face blowing can be achieved by additionally selecting cool air using the same damper that we mentioned above.

Power steering

The effect of using hydraulic booster cannot be exaggerated. It helps reduce the physical stress on the driver when driving off-road by 2–3 times. This is the best tuning for UAZ. This is especially noticeable when driving for a long time in difficult road conditions. The original power steering kit includes all the necessary parts.

Algorithm for performing the work:

We remove the steering wheel.
Remove the steering column along with the universal joint.
Unscrew the nut and disconnect the steering rod from the bipod.
Unscrew the 3 steering gear bolts.
We place the bipod from the kit on the shaft of the new steering mechanism with power steering and tighten the nut that secures it.
We install the new steering mechanism in place of the old one and secure it with 3 bolts.
We connect the bipod with the steering rod. Tighten and cotter the fastening nut.
We cut off the bracket that mounts the old steering column; it will interfere with the installation of the new one.
We put the plastic attachment from the kit on the new steering column and secure it with glue.
We install the contact screw and the horn bushing from the old column into the nozzle.
We fasten the metal column support from the kit to the car body with M6 bolts.
We put a rubber ring, washer and castle nut on the new column, then insert it into the support and secure it with a stepladder.
We insert the propeller shaft from the kit between the column and the steering mechanism. We combine its hole with the wedge from the kit. We determine the entrance hole (the widest one) and drive the wedge in with light blows of a hammer through a drift.
We put regular and spring washers on the threads of the wedge and lock it with a nut with a cotter pin.
We fasten the splines of the other end of the new shaft in the same way as the old cardan was fastened.
We finally attach the steering column. The length between the shaft joints should be 30 cm.
Tighten the castle nut and install the steering wheel.
We connect the wires and adjust the position of the horn bushing.

The steering mechanism has been replaced, you can continue installing the power steering parts.

Refinement of the dashboard

The standard dashboard of the UAZ 469 is not just minimalistic and restrained - it is simply absent. The devices are built directly into the metal elements of the body. In this regard, if you have decided to turn your UAZ into a comfortable car, then you definitely cannot do without a thorough modification of the dashboard. Fortunately, it is easy to find ready-made solutions to this problem on sale. Installing such dashboards will not be difficult, and the appearance of the interior will sparkle with new colors. Most often, the steering wheel must also be replaced along with the dashboard, because The standard one is not convenient or ergonomic. Of course, unique tuning options are not uncommon. So, often, car owners completely replace all UAZ 469 devices with devices from another car (and not necessarily domestically produced).

Photo 4: Standard dashboard of UAZ 469 (source: Yandex.Pictures)

Another good idea is to organize a so-called “shelf” above the dashboard. It allows you not only to create additional useful space for placing small things and maps, but will also serve as the basis for embedding additional electrical appliances such as a walkie-talkie, radio or additional light.

Photo 5: Example of tuning the UAZ 469 dashboard (source: Yandex.Images)

Photo 6: Another example of tuning the UAZ 469 dashboard (source: Yandex.Pictures)