"Niva" remains the most popular SUV in the countries of the former USSR. But the high loads that the car is subjected to on rough terrain can "lead" the body and then the operation of the car will be difficult. In order to prevent this from happening, it is better to strengthen it by giving the body more rigidity.
Necessary
3mm sheet steel, channel, cold-rolled section, welding machine
Instructions
Step 1
Start by reinforcing the front side members at the shock mounts. Weld 3mm sheet steel reinforcement onto them. It is better to weld the pads along the entire length of the side member. This will not only avoid cracks when hitting the suspension, but also prevent the body from deforming when towing a car, especially on a winch. Another weak point on the Niva's body is the attachment points for the gearbox and junction box. Install steel pads on them. When working, keep in mind that these two nodes must not move relative to each other for normal operation of the intermediate shaft, which is located between them.
Step 2
If the wheel arches were cut with an increase in the reach and thickness of the wheels, they must be boiled, since they are also a supporting element of the structure. This is especially true for the rear arches.
Reinforce the side skirts to give the body extra rigidity. To do this, take a cold-rolled steel profile, 2.5 mm thick, cut it along the length of the threshold, weld from below and cover the structure with a metal sheet.
In addition, scald the stops (glasses) of the rear shock absorbers, you can also strengthen them with a steel sheet. They carry an increased load when driving over rough terrain.
Change the bumpers to channels with oblique bumpers by welding them to the side members. This will help increase body rigidity. In addition, when towing or operating a winch that can be installed on such a structure, the load is evenly distributed over both spars, significantly reducing the likelihood of breakage.
Step 3
Install additional bump stops and special arcs on the car. They will not only help to throw various obstacles from the car, such as young trees. Bars and bumpers are also structural elements that will significantly increase the rigidity of the body.
But you don't need to get carried away too much, because by increasing the weight of the car, the owner automatically increases the load on the engine and reduces its cross-country ability. Therefore, when reinforcing, it is not necessary to use too thick steel and a heavy profile.
