Do-it-yourself UAZ 469 bottom repair

UAZ 469 is the legendary brainchild of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant with increased cross-country ability. In Soviet times, the car was used to transport military commanders, because possessed excellent driving characteristics, reliability and comfort necessary for off-road driving.

Like any car, the "UAZ" eventually has problems with the body. Often, restoration is associated with insufficient quality of roads, aggressive operating conditions. Basically, all the delights of off-road driving affect the chassis, bottom and fenders. Body repair is of great importance for both the driving performance of the vehicle and the aesthetic appearance. Do-it-yourself UAZ 469 body repair will not be a problem, even in the absence of special equipment or expensive materials.

Often, car enthusiasts, having driven their favorite car into the garage to carry out body repairs, and having removed a layer of paint, find holes in the metal that have formed from corrosion or from impacts. But do not despair, you can close the hole without welding, using fiberglass and putty. But this method is used to temporarily eliminate damage, because the place of the putty will begin to swell over time. You can use a metal patch, solder, and a soldering iron to seal a small hole. The scheme is very simple - you need to process the surface, degrease it, attach a piece of metal to the hole and heat it with a powerful soldering iron. If irregularities have formed, you can trim them with a hammer and cover with a special putty.

When repairing the UAZ 469 body on your own, removing the wings and doors, you can face a more serious problem - rotten body elements, such as racks, sills, etc., affecting the strength characteristics of the structure. Such defects must be removed with a grinder and replaced by installing a new metal using welding. The most important thing in body repair is to carry out welding work, having previously set the optimal welding modes and practicing on a piece of metal of the same thickness as the body, to prevent burn-throughs.

The next stage, completing the body repair, is painting. As for this point, it is better to transfer this matter into the hands of specialists, but, of course, you can do the work yourself. Before painting, it is necessary to remove a layer of old paint, grind the surface, rinse it and degrease it, and treat places with pitting corrosion with special agents. If this is not done in advance, all the work will go down the drain, because in these places bubbles will form and paint will crack. After that, using a special car putty, we begin to remove the unevenness of the body. Before painting, apply a layer of phosphate primer and several layers of acrylic on the body, then sand the irregularities with a grinder and paint. It is better to apply the paint in 3 layers, letting each dry.

UAZ Patriot is a modern Russian off-road vehicle with all-wheel drive, which makes it easy to navigate off-road while fishing, hunting or just for a walk.

The repair of this car is carried out according to the same scheme as the body repair of the UAZ 469. Repair of the UAZ Patriot begins with a complete removal of the paint layer and a careful examination of the Patriot for damage, and if detected, they must be repaired using welding or putty, followed by painting.

These cars are tuned mainly to improve the comfort conditions for off-road trips, after the purchase or after performing major body repairs. But for good cross-country ability, you need to start by changing the wheels. Rims can be installed with a diameter of 15 inches, but the tires themselves are better replaced with a larger diameter with a tread pattern that allows you to pass the muddy sections of the road. If the car gets stuck, a winch will be a necessary tuning element, which will help pull the SUV out or remove, for example, a tree blocking the road. Installing an additional roof rack on the roof will make it possible to take bicycles and a large number of travel essentials with you.

To ensure a comfortable movement in the dark, it is necessary to replace the optical system with a newer and more powerful one, and the wind deflector system and fender trim with embossed aluminum sheets will protect the body from unwanted scratches and damage. The installation of the wind deflector will take several hours, and for this you need to purchase only 2 eye nuts, eye bolts, ties and a pair of cables with a diameter of at least 3 mm.

To make the engine "breathe" while driving through deep puddles or small rivers, you can install a special air intake on the roof, and in order not to spoil the electronics, you need to raise it a little higher and install waterproofing. Also, do not forget about the checkpoint, which must be tightly sealed. The power steering and damping device will help to provide better maneuverability and controllability, and the pre-heater will help to extend the life of the engine.

To increase the comfort of the driver and passengers, it is not necessary to upholster the cabin with leather, install heated seats or a TV. You can simply install electric window lifters and a sunroof, which will allow fresh air to enter the cabin and help track down the animal on the hunt, and replacing the factory seats will allow you to get the most out of your trip.

Having separated the heart from the body (the motor was removed from the UAZ for repair), it was decided to slightly weld the car in rotten places. Since I had no experience in welding and had no time, the search began for the craftsman "Petrovich" who would take up the job.

In parallel, the car was washed and disassembled.

Soon the right person was found who agreed to weld the body a little. There were not so many damages, but "Petrovich" said that the materials were mine and for less than 10 tr. will not be taken. During the negotiations, an agreement was reached that he would also cut and digest it according to the photographs I provided.
On the Internet, on the UAZ-MADI website, an option was selected for tuning the car.
So, the disassembled pepelats was successfully transported to the garage to the craftsman.

The cars of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant were originally intended for military and national economic needs, therefore the undercarriage, frame and chassis were made of materials of increased strength. After the collapse of the Union, a lot of cars from state ownership migrated to the private sector, continuing to serve faithfully. True, the UAZ body requires some attention, systematic restoration of the paint layer and removal of corrosion.

UAZs are quite maintainable and durable cars

Before starting the repair of the UAZ body, determine the degree of damage. Sometimes corrosion starts from the inside of the body, although the outer paint coat appears to be intact.

Wash and dry your vehicle thoroughly before scheduling repairs. Inspect the body for damage. Depending on the amount and size of corrosion, you decide whether it will be a DIY repair or send the car to a car service. Overhaul, or medium, is to be done.

So, you decided to repair the UAZ yourself.

• You clean problem areas to a metallic sheen.
• If the rust has eaten through the metal, you will have to put patches, weld them on the inside. Align the welding seams with an emery disc;
• First, smooth out any dents on the metal;
• Before applying the putty, wipe the body from dust, dry particles of old paint and then degrease.
• Treat the car body with phosphating primer. This measure localizes the centers of corrosion, even if there are rust spots, and protects the metal from further oxidation. The protective primer is diluted with a solvent and applied in a thin layer from a spray gun.

The body of the UAZ has to be patched up with metal, you can't do without a welding machine

After the phosphating primer, walk with an acrylic primer so that the phosphate does not chemically react with the putty.

• Now proceed to puttying. Apply the filler in thin layers, smoothing out any unevenness in the metal left after mechanical repairs. The putty is applied at least three times with intermediate drying and sanding of each layer.
• The putty surface is primed in one or two layers before painting. Use a spray gun for priming. The dried primer layer is sanded to form a flat surface, to remove possible streaks.
• Then 2-3 layers of autoenamel of the corresponding color are applied on the surface to be treated. Each layer is aged according to the time indicated on the can. Keep in mind that can dry times are for room temperature. If the temperature in the room is lower, the drying time of the paint will increase. Air humidity also affects paint drying no less than temperature. Sand each dried layer and wipe off dust with a sticky cloth.

In this chapter, you will learn an interesting way of how to repair a UAZ with your own hands., without using a welding machine. There will not be a word about fiberglass and epoxy - we will leave them for plastic, and for those would-be craftsmen who do not work conscientiously, but only to close the eyes of the customer. Respecting himself and his car, the owner, will not stick fiberglass with epoxy on the body damaged by rust. Because corrosion under such a patch will continue its destructive effect, and as a result, in a couple of months you will get an enlarged hole in this place.

On a metal body, especially if it is a UAZ loaf body, the patches should be made of metal. Find scraps of steel sheet close to the thickness of the body. Using a grinder, or a metal hacksaw, cut out patches from it to size, overlapping the holes on the machine body. Grind the cut out parts so that they do not stick out along the edges of the cuts, try on and grind to the attachment points. Use a strong soldering iron to tinkle the joints. Warm up the patch and put it on the tinned place, solder, while leveling the molten tin so that no protrusions form. Tighten gently with a hammer.

Let the patch cool. Check for strength. If everything is done correctly, then strength and durability are guaranteed. Sand your patch. So, using a soldering iron and tin, you can solder small patches on the body, on the door, and process the rest of the body parts. Tin, in addition to connecting it, also protects the metal from corrosion.

This method is no more expensive than fiberglass patches, but more reliable. This method allows you to carry out minor body repairs of any Ulyanovsk car.

Increasingly, the owners of the UAZ 452 model, popularly nicknamed the loaf, come to the need to modernize this machine. The body of the UAZ loaf is lifted, raised to increase cross-country ability. There are 2 lifting methods.

This option is easier to perform, and it provides greater stability to the machine in off-road conditions and on corners, due to the fact that the center of gravity does not shift. The body is lifted thanks to spacers that are inserted between the frame and the body and provide a rigid connection of these elements.The spacers raise the body by 8 cm, and if large wheels are installed, the car will become 15 cm higher. In this case, it is necessary to trim the wheel arches and fenders so that the wheels do not cling to them when cornering, and be sure to hang the mud flaps.

Increases the UAZ's ability to pass obstacles. True, in this case there is a risk of a shift in the center of gravity, the car will lose controllability and stability. The situation can only be saved by a comprehensive repair of the UAZ loaf body.

• To begin with, we determine the optimal suspension height;
• Please note that lifting is limited by cardan shafts;
• You can reduce the likelihood of the machine overturning by expanding the wheel distance.

To do this, take wide wheels, larger discs. Rear axles are changed to "Bars" or "Spacer". Replacing disc brakes will help to increase the inter-wheel distance. Disc brakes from the Volga car are installed without fitting.

During the operation of the loaf, the rear doors are skewed, which begin to open spontaneously.

We start strengthening the UAZ body with our own hands from the floor. For this purpose, we raise the floor and inspect the condition of the underbody. The body is reinforced with a 20x40 profile pipe. The bottom profile is welded to the bottom waves. The first pipe is laid along the edge of the body so that the tailgate rests against it. The second is parallel, at a distance of half a meter. Stiffeners from the same profile are also welded along the side wall of the body. Profiles are installed along the ceiling, parallel to the floor pipes. Thus, the shaped tubes form a frame to which the body walls are welded. Spacers are installed between the upper and lower pipes at a distance of 50cm. The resulting frame, by welding, attracts sagging corners of the body, so that the rear doors are aligned. If you weld a sheet of steel to the profiles welded to the side walls of the body and spacers, you get a convenient cabinet for fishing rods and guns. A shelf for various little things is also formed on top. In the same way, by installing stiffeners, the side wall and the doorway of the side door are strengthened.

Strengthening the body, increasing the rigidity, and provide "kerchiefs" welded at the junction of the body sheets. Only the kerchiefs must be welded at a distance not exceeding 15 cm from each other.

Before closing the floor, inspect the bottom for rust, sand it, if necessary patch up with welding and treat with rust mastic. While the mastic is drying, cut out the floor parts from the plywood, cover them with linseed oil 2-3 times, let the linseed oil dry and lay the plywood on the floor. Then roll out the expanded polyethylene foam. On top is another layer of plywood coated with linseed oil. Lay the upper floor on top of the drying oil. It can be linoleum, or sheet steel, depending on what is planned to be transported in the UAZ.

The side walls inside also need renovation. Peel off the old panels, clean the side walls of the body from corrosion, treat with mastic. When the mastic is dry, roll out glass wool for thermal insulation, glue the foam polyethylene on it and sheathe the panels with the selected material on top. It can be plywood, and hardboard, and hardboard with dermantine. You decide.

There are two requirements for a car bumper:

1. Reliability and safety;
2. External appeal, aesthetics.

Ulyanovsk cars are no exception. Car owners of these cars install bumpers with kangarins on the UAZ 469 or “loaves” body, which, on the one hand, add solidity to the car, and on the other, protect the headlights and radiator from damage.

Requirements are made to bumpers and kangarins that they must comply with safety standards, therefore, in order to avoid problems with a valiant car inspection, we purchase suspensions from a trusted manufacturer.

How to properly repair the UAZ 469 body with your own hands, the personal experience of other drivers can help with this.The legendary vehicle, created in Ulyanovsk, is still in operation in most of the countries of the former Soviet Union. Despite the awkward appearance, the car boasts a lot of positive aspects. The main advantage is considered to be the ability to overcome the most difficult sections of the road. It's no secret that a few decades ago, the vehicle was used to transport large commanders in the field. Its ride quality is simply gorgeous. The chassis can be operated for an unusually long time without repair. But naturally, like any car, this one also has certain problems with the body. It will not be possible to avoid this even with the most careful operation.

Do-it-yourself UAZ 469 body repair - the personal experience of motorists who used this car suggests that there are a number of works that simply need to be done. The reason for this is primarily the conditions in which the machine most often drives. Everyone knows that UAZ drives mostly off-road. Plus, most of these vehicles are already old, and therefore the condition of their body leaves much to be desired.

If you try to remove the paint layers from a fairly old UAZ, you will undoubtedly be able to see corrosion or even a couple of holes of different diameters under them. Naturally, this will definitely not add positive emotions. But if with the place covered with rust, everything is more and less clear: to process, putty and grind with high quality, then what to do with the holes. Things can get a little more complicated here. Nobody will change the whole wing because of a couple of relatively small holes. It is quite expensive, and it will take a lot of time.

There are tons of tips on the Internet just for such cases. Alternatively, the holes can be repaired with putty and fiberglass. Of course, such a repair is very simple, and you don't have to spend a lot. No skills or expensive tools are needed. According to experts, this method is not the most durable. It is also commonly called the fire option, in case there are financial problems, and the car needs to be repaired. After some time after completing the work, the place will begin to bubble and swell. This will lead to an even greater spread of rust. As a result, the hole may become even larger. Does anyone need this? It is possible to avoid such an outcome, but it is difficult: the body should not be actively exposed to moisture.

You can put patches on the body, which are made of high-quality metal. It must be durable and free from rust. As for its thickness, it should be about the same as on the body itself. Using a classic grinder, cut out the patches in accordance with the previously determined dimensions. For reliability, it can be done with a margin to cover the holes one hundred percent. The cut material should be well sanded on all sides. Using the most powerful soldering iron, irradiate the places where the body will dock with the patch.

Soldering should be done with care so that the body does not lose its attractiveness. It is advisable to avoid large protrusions at the joints. If there are any small errors, you should use a hammer. No strong impacts are needed so as not to completely ruin the surface of the vehicle. It is worth waiting a little, and then check how strong the solder is. Then additional sanding should be performed.

The patch should lie as flat as possible and not protrude much above the general surface. In order for the result to be exactly like this, you should first practice on something else. Actually, a similar procedure should be performed on all holes on the body. Since all work will be carried out according to a certain scheme, it will not take much time further.

The next step will be to process the places where the patches are.Putty is applied, which is then rubbed with sandpaper. Correct and grind all irregularities. There is no need to invent anything further. It is enough to act according to a pre-existing plan, which includes a primer, painting the necessary places in the same tone as the body. You can end there. Wait until everything is dry, after which you can go on business in your car.

You can see that everything turned out to be not so difficult as it was initially thought. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to worry. There is no doubt that it will be possible to do a high-quality repair of the UAZ 469 body with your own hands - personal experience can only help with this. The main thing is not to be afraid!

The UAZ SUV is as popular in our country as the Niva. These two legendary cars are unlikely to disappear from Russian roads in the next few decades. At the same time, it should be noted that even the factory version of the SUV is suitable for driving on rough terrain and passes in places where some modern SUVs cannot even reach. Despite this, car owners sometimes think about improving the driving performance of their UAZ vehicles. Let's figure out what you can modernize with your own hands.

It is better to start the modernization of the UAZ SUV on your own from the technical part. Of course, it is she who affects the passability of the car. There are even some kind of standards, thanks to which cars that were almost perfect in terms of off-road characteristics began to appear.

As you know, old UAZ cars were equipped at the plant with ZMZ-402 motors, the main problem of which was constant oil leaks. It is possible to solve this problem, but it is not so easy. It is necessary to replace all gaskets by installing cork analogs in their place, and fill the rear crankshaft bearing with Mercedes grease.

There are also UAZ SUVs with three-liter engines. These units do an excellent job with their main tasks and do not need to be forced. Upgrades are usually limited to the installation of iridium plugs, which significantly improve the stability of the motor. The best results can be obtained by boring the engine cylinders, but do not get carried away, as excessive boring tends to thin the walls of the working containers. Given the high loads experienced by the SUV engine, this can lead to overheating and blue walls.

Important points to consider are motor power supply and cylinder ventilation. Everyone knows that the latter factor has a significant impact on the performance of the motor. To improve the situation, you can buy and install a snorkel, which is displayed on the roof and allows you to overcome even deep fords.

Often, the standard engine is supplemented with an injector, which increases the power of the unit to 130 hp. To do this, you need to replace the cylinder head with an injection one and install additional parts, such as a crankshaft position sensor and lambda probes. Car owners who have performed such operations assure that it is worth it.

Like tuning any car, modernizing an UAZ SUV involves changing the transmission, namely the installation of another main pair. For this, the Bars brand bridge is usually used, which costs about 150 thousand rubles.

This applies to both axles - front and rear. The reduced range of the standard transmission is 1 to 2, and the tuned transmission has a reduced range of 1 to 2.88. Thanks to this, the SUV overcomes serious obstacles more easily without slipping. Thus, the risk of slipping off a hill and other irregularities is minimal.

The title of "off-road vehicle" must first be earned, and UAZ 469 managed to do it. In addition, he was able to do this even in the factory configuration, and only after that the car owners began to alter something in their cars. As for the body of the SUV, it can be lifted.The so-called facelift is a very popular phenomenon that allows large wheels to be fitted. At the same time, the subframe is reinforced, and gaskets are placed under the body mountings. They can be made from hockey pucks. The body lift can be up to 250 mm or more.

UAZ owners often install additional equipment on their SUVs, which makes it easier to overcome off-road terrain. Among the main elements that are available to you today, you can highlight:

• Reinforced bumper with winch and bumper bar. The winch can only be in the front, but the rear one will not hurt you either.
• Protection of the crankcase of the power unit and gearbox. When driving off-road, it is very unpleasant to break through the pallet.
• Expeditionary trunk. This design allows you to carry almost anything. You can also optionally install a roof ladder that makes it easier to use the roof rack.
• Seeker headlights. This additional equipment is not necessary. Most often they are used by SUV owners who often drive at dusk or at night.

Separately, we can say a few words about self-repair of UAZ 469. The main advantage of an SUV over foreign counterparts is that the domestic SUV is very simple, and you can repair it yourself. If the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser gets stuck in a puddle or swamp due to engine breakdown, you won't do anything with it. Not so with UAZ: you can dismantle any components and assemblies without special tools and equipment. You will need a simple set of wrenches for any repair.

In the video you can see how the author of the video cleans the paint with his own, removes dents with the help of improvised means, paints the body car UAZ 31519.

Throughout the video, you will learn a lot of useful tips that relate to the repair of this car. Also, most of his advice is devoted to the prevention of how to keep the car body in good condition from the beginning, so that it does not rust ahead of time. Such prevention is especially relevant in the Russian realities, when in winter the roads are sprinkled with chemists who eat away paint.

The author shows those problem areas that must be initially treated in order to delay the onset of corrosion as much as possible.