Short story
The first GAZ-3308 “Sadko” car was introduced in the late 80s, but mass production began only in 1997. The reason why the designers had to postpone the drawings of the new model and continue assembling the old GAZ-66 was the collapse of the Soviet Union. The whole country plunged into an economic crisis, which also affected the Gorky Automobile Plant.
To launch mass production of the GAZ-3308 “Sadko” it was necessary to review the existing design and make significant changes to it. Initially, the van was created for the army. Therefore, the truck had to have not only increased cross-country ability, but also reliability, mobility, and durability. The designers managed to significantly improve the characteristics of the GAZ-3308 “Sadko” by changing the design of the cabin and suspension.
Test drive "Sadko" GAZ-33088
Journalists from leading Russian automotive publications were the first to be invited to test the car. “Trucker Blog” was one of them. In this review, I will try to share with you, my dear readers, my impressions of the past test runs. Information on the car, photos and videos will be provided.
To begin with, I’ll tell you in more detail about the new generation of Yaroslavl engines, for which the fuss actually took place. YaMZ-530 engines are a new family of medium-sized in-line 4- and 6-cylinder diesel engines with a size of 1.1 liters per cylinder. The development was carried out jointly by Avtodizel OJSC and the Austrian company AVL List GmbH.
This is a completely new design, created using world-leading engine engineering expertise. The motors meet Euro-4 standards and have the potential to meet Euro-5 and Euro-6 standards without significant design changes. The test Sadko is equipped with an in-line 4-cylinder diesel engine YaMZ-534 with a power of 135 hp; it is intended for installation on most medium-duty GAZ trucks.
When assembling engines, components from the world's leading manufacturers are used. To achieve Euro 4 environmental standards, the EGR system was used, which avoided the cost of AdBlue. A Common Rail battery-type fuel system (Bosch) is installed, providing injection at a pressure of 1800 bar. The block is equipped with “wet” type sleeves. The factory declared a resource of 700 thousand kilometers, the warranty on the motor is 2 years.
When introducing new engines to its cars, GAZ Group did a great job. Particular attention was paid to preparing the service network. Specialists were trained and reserves of spare parts were created at dealers and regional warehouses. The main consumers of the YaMZ-530 family engines are the leading Russian manufacturers of trucks, buses and special vehicles. The geography of consumer plants is not limited only to the Russian Federation; there is an agreement to supply motors to Belarus and Ukraine.
The modernization of Sadko was not limited to just one engine. Technical specialists presenting the car to the press mentioned more than thirty components and assemblies that had undergone improvements. In this photo, for example, we see a fuel filter separator, which will prevent low-quality fuel from entering the new engine. The power system uses polyamide fuel pipes.
From history we know that “Sadko” is the fruit of conversion and saving during the collapse of the Soviet Union. In order not to lose the market for all-wheel drive trucks, GAZ engineers resorted to a trick. The frame and cab were taken from the 3307 family of trucks. From the utilitarian “sixty-sixth” - transmission: transfer case and drive axles. The engine is a V-shaped petrol “eight” that has gone through fire and water. The driveshaft was lengthened, a winch was installed, and tire pressure was adjusted. The result was “Sadko”, with the factory designation GAZ-3308. A simple recipe, but thanks to it we managed to keep the most successful “rogue” in the history of the domestic automotive industry on the assembly line.
However, let's return to our time. After the revolutionary movement of the driver from the shishigi cab to the more comfortable GAZ-3307 cab, the fate of the main character of any car seemed to be forgotten. All the conveniences of driving a car are at the level of military equipment. Now, on a wave of relative stability for the plant, engineers have decided to make up for lost years and are actively carrying out modernization.
First of all, the changes affected the gearbox: for smoother gear shifting, double-cone synchronizers for speeds 2 and 3 were used. To reduce the effort on the steering wheel and increase the reliability of the unit as a whole, semi-integral steering is used. The car received a reinforced frame and a ZF SACHS clutch.
In the cabin, the dashboard has undergone changes, a new instrument cluster has appeared, with an electronic drive for the speedometer and tachometer. It is possible to install a tachograph and integrate the GLONASS system. The gas pedal is now electronic. GAZ's offer can be called the most tempting on the off-road truck market. In its price segment, and the price of the Sadko GAZ 33088 car starts from 1 million rubles, it simply has no competitors.
The time has come to test the Sadko in action, but before getting into the real “pampas,” the factory instructors advised us to first feel the car on the track.
There were two cars on the test and I, a person with a camera, naturally liked the more photogenic “Sadko”, with a red cabin. Although there was absolutely no difference between them. It’s just that the red, civilian version initially outperforms its khaki counterpart.
And now the truth: the instructor of the red car was a charming brunette. The girl holds the position of chief specialist in promoting the Sadko project. And by the way, in the “pampas” she gave a head start to the entire writing fraternity, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Oddly enough, for me the most vivid impressions were not from overcoming virgin lands or snowy slopes, which were part of the mandatory test program. “Sadko” surprised us by driving along the test track, where straight, high-speed sections alternate with sharp turns. It turned out that the truck is capable of responding to the driver’s reactions and actions in a completely passenger-like manner. Of course, he is a little thoughtful by passenger standards, but by cargo standards, the Sadko’s character is simply explosive.
A new motor, more flexible than its predecessor with a tractor background. The brakes are pneumatic-hydraulic, but there is one remarkable feature of the “toothy” rubber, which works as if it were your retard. As soon as you release the gas pedal, the car immediately loses speed and any desire to roll freely.
I must say that I was really pleased with the work of the checkpoint. The gear shift is not yet “foreign-made”, but it is no longer cargo-Soviet. If we try to put it in a more understandable language, this is the 24th Volga.
The first feeling that envelops you when you leave the well-worn road at Sadko is permissiveness. For some reason I remembered the army, when there was a lot of “stupidity” in the head, still in youth, but no responsibility. Perhaps it’s euphoria, or perhaps the lack of snow in the winter is simply to blame.
When driving in deep snow, the wheels quickly dig down to solid ground, and the car continues to move. No matter how hard the journalists tried, during the test not a single “Sadko” was injured, or rather, not a single “Sadko” was planted on the bridges.
The diesel engine is a special tactic for off-road driving. You don’t have to constantly maintain high engine speeds for fear of stopping it at the most inopportune moment. Less often it is necessary to turn on the reduction stage in the transfer case. The YaMZ-534 motor turned out just right, a gift for a real “rogue”. Off-road driving has become easier, one might say, more comfortable.
Against the backdrop of all the advantages, “Sadko” inherited one significant drawback. As befits a domestic car, the main path of which is off-road, it is required to have a driver. Moreover, driver, in this context, with a capital D. The one who will wipe the snot and tighten the nuts, monitor the general condition and make a diagnosis. If he is ready to dive under his “beloved” in any weather, the car will respond to him with good service.
25.02.2013
Valery Pisanov
For the "Trucker Blog"
Video
Start of sales and modernization
The first clients of the Gorky Automobile Plant to place a large order for GAZ Sadko were the Russian military. The van has proven itself on the positive side and attracted the attention of potential buyers from near and far abroad. Today, the GAZ-3308 “Sadko” is used by the armies of the following countries:
The first major modernization of the van occurred in 2003. The changes were minimal and mostly affected the power units. Thus, a turbodiesel version appeared in the line of engines installed on the GAZ-3308 “Sadko”. The model was last updated in 2014. The designers of the Gorky Automobile Plant presented to the public an updated truck that has a large payload capacity and meets modern environmental standards, which was named “Sadko Next”.
GAZ-3308 "Sadko": technical characteristics
The designers of the Gorky Automobile Plant managed to solve several problems at once and put the GAZ-3308 van on the conveyor:
- the truck fully complies with modern European environmental standards Euro-4;
- The chassis design allows the installation of various modules for military and civilian purposes;
- The car has high cross-country ability and can be used in extremely unfavorable road and weather conditions.
Transmission
Regardless of the installed power unit, the GAZ-3308 is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. All gears (except reverse and first) are synchronized. The van received a two-way mechanical transfer case with a drive on both axles, as well as a reduction and direct transmission.
The clutch is hydraulic, dry. It is made of a friction type with a hydraulic drive. Trucks with a diesel engine are equipped with a diaphragm spring, and gasoline models are equipped with a peripheral spring.
Suspension
The rear and front suspensions are leaf springs, equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. This design solution had a positive effect on the performance and made it possible to significantly increase the vehicle's cross-country ability. It handles soft ground, wetlands and mud without any problems. However, many motorists complain that the van's ground clearance is quite low (31.5 cm), which is why the truck can “sit” on the front axle.
Other characteristics
Other technical characteristics of the van:
- total weight – 6.35 t;
- curb weight of the flatbed truck - 4.2 tons;
- curb weight of the flatbed truck with winch – 4.36 tons;
- maximum load capacity – 2 t;
- turning radius – 11 m;
- maximum speed – 95 km/h;
- consumption at a speed of 60 km/h – 16 l per 100 km;
- consumption at a speed of 80 km/h – 20 l per 100 km;
- front wheel track – 1800 mm, rear – 1700 mm;
- length – 6.2 m;
- width – 2.3 m;
- van height (awning) - 2780 mm, cabin height - 2570 mm.
Owners' opinions
Most owners of the GAZ-3308 “Sadko” van note the reliability of the vehicle, the simplicity of its design and the relatively low cost of the new truck, which varies between one and a half million rubles. The effective braking system also earned a lot of flattering reviews.
However, there are also significant drawbacks that motorists complain about. The main disadvantage can be considered the low power of the van. If the car is not fully loaded, it becomes less mobile and practically does not go uphill. The fuel consumption stated in the truck's registration certificate is usually far from the truth. Owners note that a car with an adjusted carburetor and low consumption practically does not drive.
GAZ-3308 “Sadko”: photos, technical characteristics, device features and reviews on News4Auto.ru.
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