Lada Nivas

speedwayfan1, Jun 25, 9:30pm
Where are the good (I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere) ones hiding! I know there's quite alot of them around NZ, but they seem to be few and far between when it comes to selling.

The reason I ask is because for the longest time I've wanted one, and 3 weeks ago I picked up a river hack Niva, love it. Now I've decided to sell my Prelude and pick up a good Niva for the road.

I see them pop up on TM from time to time, the majority I've seen on here look to be in pretty rough condition, though there have been a few good looking ones too (one in Auckland sold just a few days ago, bit out of my price range though). Is there anywhere else I could be looking besides TM! I've heard Gee Motors(!) in Napier stock Niva bits, I guess I could give them a call and see if they have or know of any complete, good cond Nivas coming up for sale.

Would be looking at spending around $2000, and going by what I've seen sold since January I think I should be able to pick up a rather decent one for that. Wouldn't mind having to do minor work on one, I intend to go over whatever I end up getting and rust proofing it, small performance increase etc etc.

Any pointers!

muzz67, Jun 26, 4:47am
They are galve'd so no chassis rust,, timing chain issues killed most of em. Slow and thirsty on road with terrible transmission whine. lot of fore/aft pitching over bumps as they pretty short. Other than that they good off road. Yes, owned one.

pfemstn, Jun 26, 6:09am
a good one will fetch 4 grand!

ceebee2, Jun 26, 7:42am
+1
Summed up very well, used to contract service / repair those HOS when Electricorp were using fleets of them. The timing chain issue even occurred from brand new.we used to tap the timing chain cover with a hammer to engage the tensioner that the factory obviously had forgotten.LOL.

thejazzpianoma, Jun 26, 8:35am
Someone else would know better but I think there are a couple of nice easy Fiat motor transfers for those. Only something I heard in passing though as Niva's are not my thing.
My guess is it might be a Fiat 125 twin cam that lines up, if so those are oldies but goodies and are cambelt with plenty of grunt and not too scary on gas.

blackdotlova, Jun 26, 8:36am
Try this guy alby15

xs1100, Jun 26, 7:16pm
theres one hiding down in otahuhu just parked up in a reserve with grass growing up all around it often thought of seeing who owns it

carclan, Jun 26, 7:19pm
I had a 2103 sedan for nine years - failed on wof in that time. just need to follow the maintenance instructions in the hand book and it will be a reliable wagon.

modie61, Jun 26, 7:20pm
Whatdid it fail on carclan !

carclan, Jun 26, 7:25pm
Rear brake shoes, must use genuine ones too as the aftermarket ones do not have the adjusters in them.

gunhand, Jun 26, 7:36pm
There one parked in paddock up Omakau way, Seen it few weeks back. Its used as a sign so no idea if it goes or not but from the road it looked ok.
My Nephew has 2 of them, one he drives all over the South Island, all be it slowly lol.

nightboss, Jun 26, 8:28pm
There was a thread on here started by Miranda_b. Well worth a read, all about Lads in NZ. Use search option on left of this page.

nightboss, Jun 26, 8:30pm
Oops, should read " all about Lada in NZ" not all about lads in NZ.
That may be her next project.

flack88, Jun 27, 2:51pm
Drove a niva ,that had a 2ct toyo in it it went well.

hopie, Jun 28, 12:29pm
This bloke solved that problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch!v=oEGKkUGECxU

supernova2, Jun 28, 3:24pm
Not sure about the niva but i know you can fit any of the Twincam Fiat motors into the sedans and wagons.Need a 125 Bellhousing and remote brake master etc and otherthan that a straight swop.Seen it done.