Gas 69: do-it-yourself tuning, interior, kitchens, drawings and photos

The GAZ 69 can be called a truly iconic car. It was produced from 1952 to 1972, until 1975 in Romania. The model was created by a team of designers to replace the already outdated GAZ-67B. A rather interesting point is that the development of the project began almost immediately after the end of the war in 1946, and the first prototypes were presented to a narrow circle in 1948. Production of the model was almost completely transferred to Ulyanovsk to the plant, where trucks and semi-trucks were produced during the war.

An interesting point is that during the entire production of this model, about 600 thousand cars were sold, which were exported to 56 countries. The first tuning was carried out by various auto repair shops during the existence of the USSR. It was represented by the removal of the awning and the installation of an all-metal roof. Today, this car can be found almost only in showrooms, at parades and very rarely on the road. As a rule, a decrease in the number of available models for purchase creates great interest among lovers of rare cars, and also increases the cost of the vehicle itself. Today it is quite difficult to buy a GAZ 69; its cost in decent condition is about the same as that of many used very good foreign cars. Why might you need a car whose production was discontinued almost 50 years ago? The answer is quite simple - for restoration work and various tuning. Let's look at the features of the car and what kind of tuning it is carried out in more detail.

What kind of tuning of the car in question is carried out and why?

Having studied various photos of tuning on the Internet, we can say that in most cases, tuning is carried out to obtain an off-road SUV with an open top. A similar car can be found in the line of modern Jeeps, when the SUV has no roof, but only a frame for stretching the awning.

Why do many people decide to make an off-road SUV from Gazik? The answer is quite simple - it is ideal for the task for several reasons:

• Often, a car is not purchased for a lot of money, but is found in poor technical condition and is simply taken for next to nothing at the price of scrap metal. Note that the old engine and gearbox, the terrible technical condition of the body are the reason for such a low price. A car in good condition can be worth quite a lot, especially if it has been restored.
• Almost everything from the car is thrown away, as it becomes unusable due to obsolescence. An exception is the case of restoring this car for a personal collection or showroom, then you can look for an expensive offer in good condition.
• Increased cross-country ability is due to the fact that the car has a very short wheelbase. When installing a transfer case to redirect torque to two axles, the SUV can handle almost any obstacle.
• It is generally accepted that the light weight of a car due to a short wheelbase and lack of a roof is the main advantage, but this is not always the case. With a significant reduction in vehicle weight, there may not be enough pressure on the wheels to provide better traction. Therefore, the car is suitable for dirt, but not very suitable for conquering peaks or moving quickly along the highway. The truth still depends on the skills of the individual driver.
• The SUV body is suitable for installing various power units. At the same time, you can modify the body and fastenings almost beyond recognition to install and fasten the necessary units.

In general, we can say that Gazik is ideal due to the possibility of completely changing the body. Thus, it is only possible if you have a cutter, grinder and welding. Let's take a closer look at the features of the tuning work being carried out.

Features of SUV exterior tuning

The design of the SUV is made in the old Soviet style. It is not strange that the body of this car is almost never changed. This is due to the following points:

1. It is ideal for mounting large diameter wheels. In order to increase the vehicle's maneuverability, wheels with large tread are installed. By changing the suspension, you can install simply huge wheels. In addition, an important point is that the wheels are located outside the body, and the wings only emulate its continuation.

2. Refinement of the body quite often involves removing rust and applying a primer, after which paint is applied to the surface. Excessively damaged and unnecessary areas are removed and replaced. To do this, you can use a cutter or grinder.

3. The car body has a removable awning, which is mounted on a metal frame. As a rule, this moment is also restored.

4. The key feature of the car in question is the windshields that rise forward and upward. This element is also left in place so that movement during the hot summer does not cause many problems. When folding the awning, you can completely fold back the glass. For fixing, you can use special hooks. Note that many cars reach their last owner in good condition.

5. An electric fan was often installed in a Soviet-era car, which supplied air to the windshield. Warm air came only from the hood while driving. Therefore, the main modification, which does not affect the body, is the installation of additional heating.

6. The side panels of the hood could be removed in order to improve engine cooling when driving at high temperatures.

7. The car has eight seats, the driver and passenger are placed in the front, and there are two benches in the back that can accommodate 6 people. This method of arrangement is not very comfortable, so you will have to dismantle the standard seats and install new ones. Given the small wheelbase, it is enough to install 2 seats in the front and 2 seats in the rear.

8. The compact SUV in question has a tailgate that can be folded down for loading and unloading items.

9. A car with index “A” has only one fuel tank, without index – two. It should be taken into account that the standard fuel system did not have a fuel level sensor on two tanks. To check the level in the second tank from the driver's seat, you could use the dipstick to check the fuel level. An additional tank can be installed under the passenger seat.

In general, we can say that the car body is ideal for creating a cross-country SUV. Therefore, modification of the body does not cause many problems. If necessary, you can install a body kit, additional light sources - everything you need can be purchased and then installed on the car in a variety of ways.

Tuning of the GAZ 69 chassis

If you invest your money, you should pay attention to the chassis. With the right investment, a car can be made very passable. Standard cross-country ability will not be quite enough to drive through swampy or wooded areas. After prolonged heavy rains, the vehicle's ground clearance may become insufficient.

There will be no problems with installing wider disks, since the traction rods are independent and, as previously noted, are located behind the car body. If necessary, upgrading the chassis will allow you to install the wheels even further, increasing cross-country ability. As a rule, the modification of the chassis is represented by the following works:

• The length of the rods increases, which allows the installation of larger radius wheels.
• You can install large springs and shock absorbers. In this way, you can significantly increase the size of the clearance.
• The brake drums will also have to be replaced and installed with a larger diameter. This is due to the fact that with an increase in wheel diameter, the load on the braking system increases significantly.
• It is recommended to add a power steering system to the chassis for brakes and steering. This way you can significantly improve the handling of an SUV. To install hydraulics, you will need to enlarge the crankshaft. Therefore, it is possible to upgrade the steering only when installing a different engine.

Important! When tuning the chassis, the load on the engine increases significantly. Initially, R16 wheels were installed, after modification it will be possible to install 24-inch wheels with deep tread to significantly increase the vehicle's cross-country ability. Some experts recommend installing the chassis, which was previously installed on the UAZ-452.

Engine and other systems, units of “Kozlik”

When considering the technical features of cars, attention should be paid to the following points:

• The car was equipped with six and four in-line engines with a power of 55 horsepower and a volume of 2 liters. The design is not only outdated, in comparison with modern engines it is several times inferior in basic characteristics. Therefore, car tuning is represented by replacing the engine - there is no need to repair it. You can install a wide variety of engines: from those of domestic origin to imported ones.
• The clutch installed on the car is single-disc, dry. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the clutch for more sensitive control of the car on the road.
• The clutch needs to be changed for a new box. The factory installed a three-speed two-way gearbox on the car, which could also be found on the GAZ-M-20 Pobeda. We select a new box for the engine, make sure that the clutch fits.
• Great cross-country ability is due to the fact that torque can be supplied to two axles at once. The transfer case is also outdated and unlikely to be in good condition. You can try options from UAZ.
• There are three cardan shafts, if they are suitable for the variable transmission box and transfer case, then you can leave them.

In addition, you will have to rearrange all other elements of the fuel system and remove everything unnecessary. For example, GAZ 69 had an engine preheating system, which consisted of using a blowtorch.

In order to transfer the entire technical part, any domestic car can be taken as a basis or several power units can be combined. You can buy them all separately at a fairly low price, and then adjust them to each other.

Frame for GAZ 69 "Bars"

Work on the construction of an SUV began with the selection and development of the basis of the car, its skeleton - the supporting system, at the beginning of 2008, in accordance with the accepted basic technical concept. The skeleton of an SUV is the supporting system of the vehicle on which the chassis, transmission elements, engine, control system and body are based. the frame was suitable as a skeleton . Therefore, it was decided to use the frame from the UAZ 469 , as it is more durable and best suits our concept, further strengthening it in the front part for installing a winch, and changing the spring mounting points. The UAZ 469 welded frame consists of two O-shaped side members of variable cross-section, connected to each other by cross members. One cross member, for ease of installation and removal of the engine, is made removable and bolted to brackets welded to the frame side members. The remaining cross members are welded to the side members by electric arc welding. All brackets installed on the frame, except for the two brackets that secure the fixed ends of the front springs, are also welded. These brackets are riveted with steel rivets to the side members. The front bumper and tow hooks are secured to the front ends of the side members with six bolts. At the rear of the frame, two strip bumpers made of 65G spring steel, 4 mm thick, are attached to eight bolts. Between the rear bumpers, a towing device is attached to the frame cross member with four bolts. To check the geometry, the frame has four control points (the difference between dimensions A and B should not exceed 5 mm).

Frame of a UAZ 469 car. We purchased a used frame from a UAZ 469 , which, after sandblasting, was carefully examined for defects. No areas of severe corrosion were found on it, but a source of strong impact was found in the front part of the left side member. Its dimensions were checked using control points. Measurements revealed significant diagonal deformation, more than 70 mm (a consequence of the impact). The frame was treated using a special repair technology, after which it showed ideal measurements not only at control points. We were pleased, the frame was sandblasted and primed. The wheelbase of the GAZ 69 is 2300 mm, the wheelbase of the UAZ 469 is 2380 mm, that is, the UAZ wheelbase is 80 mm larger, therefore the GAZ 69 body placed on this frame will not coincide in our case, primarily in the wheel openings. We decide to change the design of the frame in order to obtain a wheelbase of 2300 mm. It was decided to install the elastic element of the suspension - springs from "Gaz 69" , as they are softer. At the same time, changing the attachment points of the springs to the frame will make it possible to install springs from the UAZ 469 . Front spring length; Gas 69 - 1000 mm, UAZ 469 - 1100 mm, length of rear springs; Gas 69 - 1200 mm, UAZ 469 - 1250 mm. In this regard, the following changes have been made to the design of the spring attachment to the frame:

UAZ frame for GAZ 69 “Bars” with modifications. — The front mounting bracket for the front spring was moved back 100 mm, the holes were re-drilled, and the bracket was bolted. The mounting of the rear end of the front spring has not been changed, so the front axle axis has shifted 50 mm back. — The area for fastening the rear bracket of the rear spring is reinforced and enlarged forward by 50 mm, with the mounting holes for the bracket also shifted forward by 50 mm. The spring mounting bracket, taken from the UAZ 469 , was modified to use the Volgovskaya spring bushing. The front mounting point for the rear spring has not been changed, so the rear axle axis has shifted by 25 mm, forward, and the practically desired result is obtained - the wheelbase is 2305 mm, which is quite enough for our case, since our body has received an extension along the wheelbase of 5 mm. (On the diagram, all changes are marked in red). . Extended mounting area for the rear spring bracket after welding. In addition to the above changes in the design of the frame associated with the spring mounting units, its front part was strengthened in the area of ​​the first cross member, with the aim of further installing a powerful winch. Reinforcement was made by installing two additional gussets along the plane of the top of the spar and the first cross member, as well as by applying additional metal strips to the upper flange of the front part of the spar. The gussets and strips are made of 4 mm thick steel, welded by electric welding. During the first tests and further operation of the SUV, it was shown that this solution was correct, which made it possible to significantly increase the resistance of the frame to diagonal deformation when using a winch in difficult conditions. Front spring mounting bracket. The general technical concept included the possibility of using a combined spring-spring suspension on all wheels on a car. Due to the fact that we were not sure of their effectiveness, we decided to first test the design we developed on the front suspension, but laying the constructive foundation on the rear suspension as well. To implement this solution, brackets were welded in the front part of the spar, representing an L-shaped stamped steel profile 6 mm thick, 350 mm long, having a cylindrical cavity in the middle part to support the spring. The bracket was attached to the outer side surface of the front part of the spar in the area of ​​the front axle axis by electric arc welding, with its rear shelf resting on the bracket for attaching the shock absorber. The bracket had holes for attaching two shock absorbers and additional stiffening ribs. The front part of the frame is reinforced and has brackets for springs. It was with these modifications that the frame of the UAZ 469 was used for our GAZ 69 “Bars” SUV. Once the frame upgrade was completed, it was cleaned, primed and painted. Black Reoflex epoxy primer was used black Vika The internal cavity of the frame was treated under pressure with the anti-rust composition CDDF-11, heated to 70 degrees, which has high adhesive and water-repellent properties, as well as durability. Read the continuation of the topic: Suspension , Transmission , Wheels and Tires of GAZ 69 “Bars”.

Changing the interior of the GAZ 69

As a rule, quite a lot of attention is paid to the salon. This is due to the fact that during the production of the car, no attention was paid to the comfort of the driver and passengers. You can change the interior of the GAZ 69 as follows:

1. To begin with, everything that has come down to us is dismantled. At the same time, quite often there are cars that already have many modifications. The entire interior can be disassembled almost to the very foundation to check the condition of the body.

2. If many cars of domestic origin are recommended to be modified by improving sound insulation, then in this case it is enough to waterproof the surface to protect it from exposure to high humidity. You can also perform vibration isolation to reduce the spread of vibration throughout the body.

3. You can simulate a car interior using plywood, the thickness of which is about 15 millimeters. In addition, you can use drywall. An example of use is the creation of armrests, various niches and compartments.

4. When creating the interior, do not forget that the car does not have various air ducts for installing a stove. Therefore, in order to make driving an SUV comfortable in cold weather, you should create an air duct system and install a stove.

5. The central panel is very simple. Therefore it should be slightly changed. Quite often, a handle is installed so that the passenger can hold himself while traveling off-road. The instrument panel can be classic, or you can install another one. It is important to add good lighting, since the information is practically unreadable in the dark.

6. Standard seats do not provide the necessary comfort. That is why they should be replaced. Kits that include sports seats with lateral support are very popular. You should not pay attention to the type of fastening, since almost any type of fastening can be welded on the body.

7. Depending on what type of transmission was installed, the type of design of the gear shift lever depends. If it's automatic, you can use the trim that was used on the original car. The manual transmission can be designed in different ways.

8. Between the seats, you can install a special panel made in the form of a glove compartment for storing important substances. This design element will be relevant due to the fact that the glove compartment itself is in the car.

9. You can install additional rear-view mirrors to increase your already good visibility.

On the Internet you can find a large number of different examples of interior design, some of which can be taken as a basis. The job of refinishing the interior shouldn't take much time, but it can cost a lot of money if you purchase all the trim elements new. You can save significantly on tuning by using materials that are sold at car dismantling sites.

Restoring driving performance

Rust and corrosion are the worst enemies of the 69th modification of GAZ. To a greater extent, it affects the bottom of the car, so in the absence of preventive visits to the service station for a long time, these elements will have to be created from scratch. The main thing is to use parts that are identical in size, otherwise you will have to buy arch extensions for the rear wheels. To ensure that the repair does not have to be repeated in a year, you can use a little trick.

It is recommended to increase the area of ​​the GAZ body by 40-50 cm. An additional margin of safety is created by replacing the driver's door with a passenger door.

A wicket door has less impact on the frame. Drivers identify the following as additional means of effective repair:

• the gas tank is located under the bottom in the area of ​​the rear axle;

  An example of attaching a gas tank to a Gas 69 body

• the floor is made as level as possible;
• a reinforcing safety arch is installed, increasing the rigidity of the body;
• the reinforced design step is fixed to the body;
• if corrosion has severely damaged the frame, it is recommended to completely replace it;
• the old frame is used for the new body, provided it is technically suitable;
• For the manufacture of a new frame, a pipe with a rectangular cross-section is used, the parameters of which are 20x40 mm.

Body work begins with studying the technical characteristics of the “base” of the car. For this purpose, drawings and technical specifications are used. It is recommended not to change the body part if it is in satisfactory condition. Doors are in second place after the body, especially under harsh operating conditions. The first repair should replace the original driver's door.

A car market or auto parts store will help with this. Having carefully copied the part number, they buy a second passenger door. Then the strip is digested, and the finished version replaces the original driver's door. The operation will not affect the driving performance of the car, but frame wear in this area will be reduced.

Car painting: making an SUV attractive

The original color of the car not only attracts, but even repels. Therefore, you should apply a bright color. Features of body painting include the following points:

• To protect the body, as well as ensure even distribution of the paint, priming should be performed. When performing such work, you can solve problems with unevenness and various body defects. Priming should only be done after all corrosion has been removed.
• When choosing paint, people often pay attention to camouflage patterns. This is due to the fact that the car is used while hunting or fishing. Camouflage colors make the SUV less noticeable in the forest.
• Some elements of the car must first be removed for painting. It is best to start the painting work itself with the roof and, having brought it to the desired shade, you can move directly to the body. It should be taken into account that it is recommended to apply the paint in several layers. Handles and other elements, for example, glass, can be sealed to protect them from paint.

After painting, the car is transformed almost beyond recognition. It is possible to make it even more unrecognizable by using modern stickers. Materials made from vinyl are suitable for this.

The process of applying vinyl stickers is quite simple. To do this, you need to wet the part of the body on which the sticker will be applied, and then peel off the protective film and wet the sticker itself. We apply the film, and then remove the bubbles using a spatula. It is quite important to remove all bubbles, since otherwise the sticker may be damaged due to mechanical stress.

CVR of the vehicle

If we are talking about a used GAZ purchased for “driving”, then a major restoration repair (CRR) of the body is required. As mentioned earlier, replacing the doors with the installation of new thresholds will give additional strength to the frame.

The repaired GAZ 69 body is ready for painting.
For this, a bent profile with a parameter of 2 mm is used.
The stand is attached to the floor area under the feet of the passenger and driver. Checking the hull geometry is an important step that affects driving performance and fuel consumption. There should be no traces of chips or poorly screwed elements of the body. The geometry of the 69th model is checked starting from the floor. Its dimensions correspond to the frame without protrusions. Signs of corrosion or wear indicate the need for replacement. You will need sheet metal for this. Before installation, it undergoes anti-corrosion treatment, after which it is coated with powder enamel.

Existing connections on the body must be sealed. It is recommended to use mastic 51-7 for these purposes. It protects the initial seams and the seams created as a result of welding work from vibration and corrosive influences. The KVR is completed with the final treatment of the body, which prevents the formation of rust and corrosion. With regular maintenance, your all-weather vehicle will last a long time. The main thing is to conduct an in-depth examination every 2 months. Attention to detail will reduce the likelihood of body defects and forced downtime.

What the experts say

Sergey. He was engaged in car repairs. Once they brought me a GAZ 69 and offered it for almost nothing. I decided that it would make a very attractive SUV for traveling with friends through the forest. It took about one month to replace the engine, transmission, chassis and restore the body; there was little work, so I decided to spend my time wisely. It took about another month to complete the interior and exterior. The result was to the taste of all our friends - a lightweight off-road SUV.

Maksim. I was looking for a GAZ 69 in good condition for a long time, but I had to take what I came across. As a result, for several thousand I got a slightly rusty and rotten Gazik, without an engine and a type with a gearbox. But all I needed was the body, everything definitely needed to be changed so that this car would at least weigh like a UAZ. The work cost more than 30,000 rubles, but the car turned out to be very perky and with increased cross-country ability. All the forests, mud after the rain - there are no problems with cross-country ability. If you need a car with high cross-country ability for the summer, then you should pay attention to tuning the GAZ 69.

Technical characteristics of GAZ-69 and 69A