VAZ-2104 Turbo: How an Old "Four" Survived Fires, Floods, and Became Faster Than Most Foreign Cars

Most tuning projects start with cold calculation: for competitions, for specific power figures, or for a spectacular appearance. This VAZ-2104 went a completely different way. Initially, an ordinary grandfather's wagon with a 1.3-liter engine and a 4-speed gearbox became the first car of a 21-year-old guy, a courier's workhorse, and then a shared car for him and his girlfriend. After the breakup, only memories remained and a rather tired "four", which had gone through fires, floods, accidents, and rot from road chemicals. He wanted to sell it, but in the end, the desire to bring everything to a logical conclusion won.

The first stage was as down-to-earth as possible: a "classic" engine, a welded differential, a modified steering angle, a hydraulic handbrake, and the first attempts at winter drifting. Then came a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine with a modified "head", increased compression ratio, and a power of about 110-120 hp. This was not enough for long - appetite came during the ride. Thus began the turbo epic, which initially brought two unsuccessful 16-valve engines: one "died" after 500 km, the second lived a thousand and ended its life after an overboost of 1.7 bar.

The third version became the very "red" one, brought to mind. At the heart is the same 1.6 VAZ-21124 with carefully selected stock pistons and a modified cylinder head without "evil" camshafts. TD04 turbine, injectors from Subaru EJ20, Blow off HKS, exhaust and intake from Clubturbo, oil radiator and modified cooling with a thick AJS radiator. The owner deliberately abandoned extreme boost: 0.8 bar on AI-100 gives 210-220 hp on the flywheel, and in everyday mode at 0.4 bar the engine produces about 180 hp. Over 6000 km, the engine has shown that resource can also exist.

The transmission has evolved no less. Instead of a 4-speed, a 5-speed gearbox with an R5 series and long gears appeared, the gearbox was changed from a cargo 4.3 to 3.9, the rear axle received reinforced semi-axles of Soviet production. All this made acceleration more logical for a turbo engine, which reaches boost only after 2800 rpm and requires gas pedal work, as in the old turbo cars of the 80s and 90s.

The suspension has gone from experiments with BMW levers to a return to the reworked "classic". Reinforced levers, a stabilizer of increased diameter, Fox shock absorbers, Techno Ressor springs and a lowering of 50 mm. Add increased steering angle, camber and caster - and we get a wagon that confidently holds a straight line and willingly changes trajectory, while remaining relatively comfortable for everyday driving.

The body had to be virtually rebuilt: new sills with reinforcement, rear fenders made in USSR with thicker metal, seven bumpers, a "lip" in the VFTS style, modified optics and a neat appearance that is no longer associated with country transport. In the cabin - sound insulation, podiums for speakers, additional instruments, a hydraulic handbrake and a steering wheel, immediately making it clear: this is not stock.

On the move, the car makes a much stronger impression than the numbers promise. The turbine "wakes up" abruptly, the acceleration seems frighteningly fast, and the free exhaust only enhances the feeling that there are not 200, but all 300 hp under the hood. At the same time, the "four" remains a car for every day - if the driver is willing to get used to the lack of traction at the bottom and work with his feet. The story of this VAZ-2104 ended symbolically: a prize at the festival, a sold car and the understanding that the next stage is ahead. And most importantly - proof that even an old "Zhiguli" can go through fire, water and boost pressure, turning into something much more than just a tuning project.

VAZ-2104 Turbo: How an Old "Four" Survived Fires, Floods, and Became Faster Than Most Foreign Cars

The Story of an Unusual Soviet Turbo Wagon

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