Today started well but....


My Lada Niva (Yes Lada) is working hard at the moment with the weather in Northumberland being much like the rest of the Nordic UK.

The Niva is our preferred mode of transport, and therefore something I need to keep online and able to get us to work and so on.

Following on fromyesterday when the thermostat housing froze up (-15c here) , I bought more anti freeze to do a 50/50 mix.

Now bearing in mind I only used the drain plug yesterday , what did it do today I ask you ???

It snapped clean off.....



Coolant drains onto deck as I shout and curse my beloved Niva.


I didnt replace the blow torch I threw out 6 months ago, but thankfully I have had problems with the Saab radiator, and had bought a spare radiator & hoses.


So to get me out of a hole, the Niva has a Saab radiator fitted, while the Lada one is out.

It required some modifying with a jigsaw to remove all the plastics, and the Saab hose kit got chopped up, pipe joiners were fashioned from my garage hoover pipes, and it is all held in place with galvanised fencing wire.

Go buy some wire like this it is so handy !


Nipped out once mobile again and bought a replacement blow torch, and soldered back in the drain plug. ( which I will never use again)


Heath Robinson Christmas fix, as parts will take a few days to replace, and what with more crappy weather and the week before Xmas I wasnt chancing no 4x4.

However I am back on the road - Awaiting parts

Dont know why but this came into my head http://youtu.be/kvDMlk3kSYg












[Edited on 21-12-10 by mangogrooveworkshop]


[Edited on 21-12-10 by mangogrooveworkshop]

Proper locost fix

Well done!

Nice looking car (Trabant), probably more use than most fwd cars at the minute lol....



Surprisingly my Niva is attracting lots of glances at the moment, some obviously amused by my silly Ushanka, and maybe others admiring its go anywhere ability.


My only concern with it, is it breaking down, or some prat driving into me. However some swift panel beating with a ball hammer will have it sorted (I hope)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yoz7wazwqU




[Edited on 21/12/10 by T66]

[Edited on 21/12/10 by T66]

Top bodging


I actually really like Nivas.

Good skills OP, we had a 1.3 beige lada riva years ago, crap but really reliable, after all if they are built to survive russian wether ours is just a walk in the park.

quote:

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Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
Dont know why but this came into my head http://youtu.be/kvDMlk3kSYg












[Edited on 21-12-10 by mangogrooveworkshop]


[Edited on 21-12-10 by mangogrooveworkshop]

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When we get the locostbuilders team for the mongol rally you will be invited

Can't see any difference in your quick fix pictures and what a Lada main dealer would do

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Originally posted by Mr G
Can't see any difference in your quick fix pictures and what a Lada main dealer would do

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Lets be honest here, they are crap cars, horrible, nasty and cheap so why do I want one?

A Lada Niva, crap, cold, rusty as it may be, will go places that any other 4x4 could only dream of!! They are so light, simple and unbreakable its untrue!

Top stuff. I love Nivas! I have about 50 meters of fencing wire that i'll been snipping bits off for years, very useful stuff. Recently I dropped a bolt down a cambelt cover, snipped off some fencing wire then heatshrinked a speedo magnet onto it and got it out first time, saved hours of hassle ^_^

quote:

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Originally posted by marcjagman
Lets be honest here, they are crap cars, horrible, nasty and cheap so why do I want one?

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