1982 Lada Niva

With the bigger wheels off i wanted to finish the fix i started almost a year ago. The rims had corrosion at the centre caps, i dealt with the corrosion and sprayed some primer. Today i mounted them one by one on my rotary jig and sand them back to a smooth finish, i used P800 sandpaper and my fingers. I left them to dry overnight, it's getting cold again and i want the paint to stick.
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Today i finally found some time to get some work done in the garage. The wheels i sanded few days ago had plenty of time to dry but it was still a bit cold for paint, so i used my heat gun to pre heat them and after to help them to dry. The color a bit more grey but i managed to blend it, the first one is a bit more noticeable but for a Lada that is acceptable. Next i need to raise the rear shock absorbers, they are at the end of their travel.
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With the wheels dry i installed them and took it for a test drive, the back bounces a lot. So i got it over the inspection pit and cut, drill and made this extension. It moves the shock up couple of inches. Then i did a bigger test drive, up to a picnic area, it drives much better. It started raining on me, so i'll throw a few welds to reinforce the relocated shock mounts, once it dries. I still have lots of vibration in the driveline but it's a lada so i'll leave with it for now. Next on the list is to mount a propane tank, get it adjusted and get it inspected.
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Today the littel niva got a new to it LPG tank. This one is certificated till 2039. I had to change the bracket, run a wire for the rear valve and couple more things. I did fire it on lpg it had very little in the tank, but immediately i could smell it is leaking LPG in the cooling system, only contact point in the system is the evaporator. So it needs a replacement evaporator. Then i took it on a test drive on LPG it runs better then on gasoline. On the test drive i stop by a local flea/tool market where i found and bought this first aid kit and a 19mm tire iron. The little niva has 3 different wheel bolt on every tire and i only had one wrench to fit one of them. I'm planning to take it to a firm that installs LPG systems on vehicles so they can issue new papers for the system i have. That way i can get it certificate by the government and written in the title.
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Today i drove the little niva to work it was a noisy ride but it made it no problems. After work i took it to the firm that installs LPG systems, and they rework the entire system, also installed a new evaporator and made me documents for the system. With the documents in hand i drove it directly to the same inspection station that it dump its coolant. And got the LPG system certificate and written in the title, now is officially dual fuel. The process was expensive and took me an entire afternoon. There is a very strange phenomenon, how many people approach you to talk to you about anything beside the lada talk in this car. In the 605 no one looks at you, in the 607 people ignore you or take a short look and turn there heads, the little niva is like a magnet, today i even had a lawyer talk to me and give me his card and told me if i ever get a ticket for anything beside parking to call him he will defend me for free. I was surprised:oops:
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Last month, i've been driving this little russian 4x4, it's a happy vehicle, people always want to talk to you. I've been busy i still can't pass 500 km to re torque the head and to a valve adjustment and an oil change. Brakes are getting better also new LPG evaporator made a big difference for the better. For the last few days i've been driving a new Leaf, what a difference, with gasoline at 5,5$ a gallon and diesel even more expensive, electric cars make more sense.
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I've had enough of driving this electric vehicle (Nissan Leaf), it has too much safety, i turn all of it off and every startup it come on. Like in this picture the Yugo is running a red light the Leaf screams at me and slams the brakes. Also it can't go to places i want to go. You can see the nature at my places. The little niva is getting better, the engine is still down on oil pressure but is having a bit more power, and more rev happy.
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My wife ran a leaf for two years and even she got fed up with it. It spent more time charging than anything else. Am approaching 70 years now so I think I shall stop driving when there is no alternative to real cars.
 
Its not just about electric cars. My wife has a 2018 Honda Fit. It has 'lane mitigation' which occasionally goes off for no reason. Steering shakes and makes a noise. We try to turn it off but it works anyway. What a pain!
ABS was hard enough to get used to but this more modern trend to accommodating brainless drivers means I am keeping my current gas fuelled ride forever.
 
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