We choose a radiator grille for a VAZ 2107
The first thing that catches your eye when you look at a car is... These are the headlights and grille . Accordingly, special attention is paid to this part of the car when tuning.
The grid performs several functions:
- protects the radiator from damage by foreign objects;
- directs air flow, improving radiator cooling;
- prevents contact with a hot radiator;
- protects the radiator
from direct sunlight; - improves appearance, being an important design element.
The grille material and its color can be different: chrome steel, carbon, plastic. The radiator grill of the VAZ 2107 is made of plastic with a coating that imitates chrome. Often the dimensions of the side gaps of the correct mesh do not match, which gives the appearance of the machine a somewhat untidy appearance.
VAZ owners are trying to decorate their car, install ready-made customized grilles, or make them with their own hands.
Radiator grille VAZ 2107 - purpose
When we see a car, we first of all pay attention to its front part. One of the elements that immediately stands out from the front of the VAZ 2107 is the radiator grille. This part is present on every vehicle and comes in different shapes, colors and sizes.
The radiator grille has several functions:
- protection of the engine cooling radiator from damage;
- direction of air flow to improve airflow of the heat exchanger;
- protection against contact with a hot radiator;
- preventing sunlight from reaching the radiator;
- improving the appearance of the car.
On the VAZ 2107, the grille gives the car a more aggressive look.
The owner faces the question of choosing a grille if it is replaced, for example, if it is damaged or if he wants to modify his car.
If we consider the cladding as a decorative element, then, depending on preferences, the product can immediately attract the eye or, on the contrary, it will be unnoticeable, organically fitting into the overall design of the machine parts.
What are they like?
On the seven you can install a new radiator grille, which can be factory-made or made by yourself. The DIY method is much more difficult, but the owner will receive a unique shape and design of the device. Materials such as carbon, plastic, chrome steel, aluminum and others are used for manufacturing. We will look at each version of radiator grilles on the VAZ 2107 in more detail below.
Regular
The sevens that came out of the Volga plant were equipped with plastic grilles with a chrome finish. In its central part there is a radiator grille emblem. The chrome coating of the product makes the front of the car stand out, but even despite this, many decide to replace the device with a tuned design. Standard installations have article number 2107-8401014.
Aluminum
The standard lining of the seven can be replaced with an aluminum structure. Aluminum has more advantages than chrome-plated plastic, which is why very often owners opt for aluminum radiator grilles. To enhance strength and corrosion resistance, the aluminum structure is made using silicon.
Stainless
Stainless steel products are also popular, as their main advantage is their resistance to corrosion. In addition, the stainless steel radiator grille on the VAZ 2107 is cheaper than an aluminum structure. The advantages also include the ease of processing of stainless steel, which ultimately allows you to get a design no less attractive than the standard one with a chrome frame.
Carbon
Carbon fiber radiator grilles are almost impossible to make yourself, so there is only one option here - buying a ready-made factory product. Carbon fiber devices are lightweight and highly durable, which has a positive effect on their service life.
Plastic
Plastic products have become very popular due to the low cost and availability of this material. The black radiator grille of the VAZ 2107 has an original look and resembles the VAZ 5 Series model. The plastic structure can be painted in any other color, for example, to match the car body, thereby achieving a unique appearance for the car.
Solid
The solid radiator grille is popular among young people and is a design that covers the entire front part of the car. Under the solid structure are the front headlights, which of course reduces the quality of road surface lighting. The use of a solid structure allows you to greatly change the appearance of the car and make it unique.
To make a version of a solid design, you will need a VAZ 2105 radiator grille, and in triplicate. They are connected, puttied and painted, resulting in a finished product that remains to be attached to the car. To secure the finished product, you will need to make a grille mounting bracket.
Homemade
You can make a unique installation for the radiator of the seven yourself. Moreover, this does not require spending a lot of time and effort, and the final installation is sometimes better than factory products. The easiest way to make a homemade radiator grill is to additionally equip it with a steel mesh with small cells or honeycombs. This mesh is located under the main cladding installation, and, if necessary, is painted chrome or black.
To connect the standard radiator grille with its complementary mesh, you must use silicone, glue or plastic clamps. The result is a modernized installation, through which the appearance of the car significantly changes.
Despite the fact that the production of the 7 stopped quite a long time ago, today a lot of not only spare parts are produced, but also decorative elements for tuning. Particularly popular today are the Fighter and Azard radiator grilles.
What types of gratings are there?
The grille can be either homemade or factory-made. The part is made of carbon, plastic, chrome steel, aluminum.
Regular
The standard decorative element of the VAZ “Seven” is made of plastic and has a coating that imitates chrome. Quite often, a factory product will have side clearances that don't line up, making the car less attractive. In this case, some owners have a desire to install a tuned part or make it themselves.
Aluminum
The material is the most versatile and durable; it is usually used in expensive cars and SUVs. Since the alloy contains silicon, this not only makes the grid stronger, but also protects it from corrosion.
Stainless
A stainless steel part has a lower cost compared to an aluminum product, and the material is easier to process. Separately, it is worth noting the attractiveness of the chrome-plated stainless steel radiator grilles.
On the VAZ 2107, the trim can be supplemented with lighting from LED elements.
Material for a tuned radiator grille
There are several types of radiator grilles:
- Aluminum. This universal, durable material is used in expensive cars and SUVs. The presence of silicon in the alloy increases strength and protects against corrosion.
- Stainless steel gratings are cheaper than aluminum ones, and the material is easier to process. The chrome-plated stainless steel radiator grilles look especially good. You can complement the composition with LED lighting.
- Carbon grilles are characterized by a combination of low weight and high strength and durability. It is not possible to make a carbon grille at home, so you can only buy a ready-made one.
- Plastic grilles are the most common due to their low price and sufficient strength. Plastic allows you to experiment with the appearance of the car without significant damage to the family budget. To improve the appearance, the plastic can be painted in a suitable color.
The choice of material for making your own grating depends on the availability of materials and tools, financial capabilities and design ideas.
Replacing the radiator grille
Regardless of what goals are pursued when replacing the radiator grille, the old element will in any case have to be removed from the car.
How to remove the cladding
To dismantle the decorative element, you will need a minimum set of tools, consisting of an 8-mm wrench and a Phillips screwdriver. The work consists of the following actions:
- From the engine compartment, use a key 8 to unscrew the fasteners of the upper part of the grille, after which it is removed from the hood.
In addition to decorative, the radiator lining also has a protective function. Thus, this element is an integral part of every car, including the VAZ 2107. A wide selection of radiator grilles allows you to transform and highlight the car. If you can’t find a suitable option from ready-made products, you can do the cladding yourself.
Do-it-yourself grille tuning
Initially, you need to decide what exactly you want to change and how to do what you planned.
Do you have the necessary tools and materials? When the desire to straighten the grille reaches its climax, remove it and take it to the tuning location. There, clean off dirt and various defects. If any cracks are noticed in the element body, solder it.
The following will describe the most popular method of modification, which you can adjust according to your taste preferences:
- Using pliers, remove elements that you think are unnecessary.
- Thanks to a hot knife, you can also get rid of the branded badge-emblem of the automobile industry.
- Install plastic parts in place of the resulting connector to strengthen the structure and hide irregularities.
- If there is nothing suitable for changing the appearance of the shield from scrap materials, purchase several meters of cable channel (20 mm wide) from the store. For the VAZ-2107 radiator grille, 4 meters of material will be enough.
- Divide the cable channel into 6 pieces, having previously measured the length of the grid elements.
- To attach the plastic to the grille, just use Titan glue, and fill the empty spaces with glue from a gun for strength.
If you compare the old grille with the updated one, you will notice that the new one has six bars, and not four like the old version. This happened because not only the middle, but also the outer elements were covered with new material, acquiring a completely different, more stylish look
Clean up the remaining exposed part of the old grille and cover it with paint of your choice.
Radiator for the cooling system of a carburetor engine VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099
There is another option for modifying the grille - more complex:
- Cut out the center piece with a jigsaw.
- Make holes for fasteners.
- Use thin cardboard or plastic to go around the outline of the grill.
- Apply several layers of epoxy and fiberglass to the resulting workpiece.
- Then remove the cardboard or plastic when it is dry.
- Clean the contact areas with fine sandpaper and putty.
- You can paint the grille in the color you like.
Experts recommend lubricating the part of the grille that is under the hood with grease or other suitable material to prevent corrosion.
Soul VAZ 2107 / LED illumination of the radiator grille / DIY
About the protective grille
The Lada, one of the latest models of the classic VAZ line, has a very distinctive protective radiator grille. Like most elements in older models, it has its drawbacks. One of which is the most significant: corrosion underneath on the hood, which needs immediate correction, otherwise the body will suffer greatly.
Tuning any protective grille consists of two options - cheaper and more expensive:
- buy a new one;
- remake the old one.
Purchasing a new part is always easier, and sometimes even more reliable. VAZ spare parts stores offer a lot of options for protective grilles:
- plastic and chrome plated;
- black and white;
- with different lattice shapes and cell sizes;
- plain and printed.
Tips for tuning radiator grilles
Several recommendations from this article will help you during the tuning process.
Use self-tapping screws to attach the metal mesh to the plastic grille. To prevent the grate from splitting, heat the screws with a lighter, burner or blowtorch before tightening them. At temperatures of 150 - 200 degrees, they are easily screwed into any plastic and do not lead to cracks.
Attach the plastic mesh with superglue. To do this, apply a drop of glue to the grid, place the grid on top, and a piece of cellophane film on top of it and press firmly with your finger or palm for 5 - 10 seconds. The film will protect your hand from contact with the glue. After you stop pressing, the film can be cut off using a sharp knife or scissors. The remaining glue that is squeezed out during the pressing process will not have time to harden during this time, so it will not be difficult to remove them with a clean, lint-free rag.
If you couldn't find the necessary tuning elements in a car store, don't despair. Many online stores sell various tuning elements for all car models, as well as materials for their manufacture.
Before you start tuning, make a plan and a drawing that shows what you want to achieve. This will help you choose the right materials and the necessary technology. Carefully read descriptions of such types of tuning on the Internet, this will help you avoid many mistakes.
