Do-it-yourself beard tuning for VAZ 2107

The front panel of the VAZ 2107 has a console in the middle on which various equipment is placed (cassette recorder, watch, cigarette lighter). Car enthusiasts call this fairly functional part of a car’s interior a “beard.” Tuning enthusiasts often pay special attention to this unit, making it original and increasing its functionality. Tuning the VAZ 2107 beard involves adding additional elements and devices that make it more useful:

MP3 player.
Dashboard lighting control.
Watch.
Switches for external lighting, electric fan, fog lights.
USB sockets for charging gadgets.
Control devices for the operation of the vehicle's electrical network (voltmeter, ammeter).
A compartment for small items, located near the gearshift lever.

The console is also covered with decorative trim, which serves as decoration for the standard interior of a production car.

Tools and materials

Tuning consists of making a new beard, on which it is necessary to provide in advance the mounting locations for indicators, switches, control devices and other equipment. The most affordable material for making a beard with your own hands is plywood. The thickness must be chosen at least 6 mm, otherwise the product will not be very rigid. To trim the console, artificial leather is most often used; it is matched to the color of the interior, or carbon fiber of a suitable color.

Often, tuning the beard of a VAZ 2107 is done by covering the front panel and doors with leatherette or carbon fiber. To make a customized beard, you will need the following tools and equipment:

pencil;
locksmith corner;
roulette;
jigsaw;
grinder;
drill or screwdriver;
glue gun;
furniture stapler.

The new beard is installed in place of the old one, the old console is dismantled to make the measurements necessary for the workpiece.

Steering wheel improvement

The steering wheel is the main control element of the car, so it must be comfortable to operate and suitable in size. In the VAZ 2107, the main disadvantage of the steering wheel is its large size, which slows down the steering speed and impairs maneuverability.

The standard steering wheel of the VAZ 2107 makes it difficult to control the car due to its large size

I got behind the wheel of my brother’s “Seven” several times when I was studying at a driving school, and there was a catastrophic lack of lessons with an instructor. In my opinion, the steering wheel is really uncomfortable. It is large, but the rim is quite thin, and it is uncomfortable to hold. And it is not located very well - in the turning position it noticeably covers the dashboard and, unfortunately, is not adjustable. Our steering wheel also had a feature - either constructive, or the wheel alignment was poorly adjusted - the car drives straight not with the steering wheel in a straight position, but with the steering wheel turned slightly to the right.

The easiest type of tuning that will help cope with external defects of the steering wheel, for example, abrasions, is to install a braid on its rim. It also makes control more convenient, since your hands will no longer slide on the steering wheel.

With braiding, the steering wheel does not slip and looks more presentable

To replace the steering wheel, the old steering wheel must be removed. Car stores sell sports steering wheels for the VAZ 2107. You can also install a steering wheel from a foreign car on the “Seven”, but not from just any car; it must fit the mounts. Alternatively, you can go to an auto-disassembly shop with your steering wheel and choose the right one there.

A more technically complex tuning option is to install hydraulic or electric power steering.

Making your own beard

A beard is a complex structure; it is made of flat parts. To make them you need to make patterns; it is best to make them from cardboard. It is necessary to achieve high precision of the console parts; rigid cardboard is quite suitable for this. If you are not confident in your skills, first make a mock-up of the console from cardboard. This will allow you to make sure that the drawings are made correctly and to estimate how the new beard will fit into the installation site.

After making the pattern, mark the details of the beard and cut them out of plywood with a jigsaw. All parts are connected using glue and screws. The latter will allow you to fix the console elements until the glue sets. This is the most reliable and easiest way to connect beard parts.

After the beard frame is ready, it is covered with carbon fiber, leatherette or fabric. For their fastening, finishing materials, furniture stapler and glue.

After the glue has dried, all that remains is to install the new console in place of the standard one. Attach switches and devices and secure.

Radio tape recorder

No upgrade of the “six” is complete without installing a speaker system or at least a simple radio. A standard place for a radio receiver in the beard of a small-sized “six”. It should be trimmed to standard 1DIN. This can be done with a metal file. Then sand the edges with sandpaper.

Installing a radio

The radio tape recorder is attached to the beard using a metal case. Radio installation steps:

Having bent all the tabs, use special spatulas to remove the radio from the case.
The metal base is inserted into the prepared hole.
We fix it using special tongues.

Cables are included to connect the player. The most commonly used are:

black - “earth”;
red and yellow (often wound together) - ignition “+”;
blue - power for the active antenna;
white - front left (FL) speaker;
gray - front right (FR) speaker;
green - rear left (RL) speaker;
purple - right rear (RR) speaker.

Tuning beard VAZ 2107: Video

MP3 player.
Dashboard lighting control.
Watch.
Switches for external lighting, electric fan, fog lights.
USB sockets for charging gadgets.
Control devices for the operation of the vehicle's electrical network (voltmeter, ammeter).
A compartment for small items, located near the gearshift lever.

What can be placed on the center console

Tuning enthusiasts make their own beard to place on this panel:

watch;
multimedia devices (radio, radio, etc.);
knobs for adjusting the level of illumination of the dashboard;
switch block for fan, fog lights, external lighting;
pocket for small items;
USB sockets for charging gadgets
part of a car's control devices.

Before taking measurements for the manufacture of the center console, it is necessary to remove decorative trims from the existing part and anything that will interfere with the installation of the new part. In order not to be mistaken with the dimensions, you must first make blanks from cardboard and try them on.

Materials and tools

Console tuning usually consists of making a new VAZ 2107 beard, on which mounting locations for switches, indicators, control devices and other equipment are pre-provisioned. The most affordable material for making your own beard is plywood. The thickness must be at least 6 mm, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve the required rigidity of the product. For finishing, artificial leather is most often used, matched to the color of the interior elements, or, more recently, carbon fiber of a suitable color.

Sometimes tuning the beard of a VAZ 2107 is accompanied by a comprehensive redesign of the interior design with the replacement of finishing materials for the door trim and trim of the front panel with carbon fiber or leatherette. To make a tuned VAZ 2107 beard, in addition to finishing materials, the following devices and tools are needed:

jigsaw;
electric drill or cordless screwdriver;
“grinder” (angle grinder);
locksmith corner;
pencil;
ruler (roulette);
glue gun (tube of glue);
furniture stapler (for fastening leatherette).

The new console (beard) is installed in place of the standard one, which should be dismantled to free up space and take the measurements necessary to create the workpiece drawings.

Possible reasons for dismantling the shield

In what cases is it necessary to remove the dashboard of a VAZ 2107 car? There may be several reasons for this:

panel tuning;
replacing burnt out light bulbs;
repair of individual devices that have failed.

VAZ 2107 is a legendary car, which hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts have repaired independently.

Removing the panel

You can repair a VAZ 2107 with just a few screwdrivers in your arsenal. In particular, to remove the panel you only have to unscrew one Phillips screw.

Photo gallery: what tools should be on hand

A Phillips screwdriver is the main working tool for dismantling the dashboard

A slotted screwdriver is useful for releasing several latches on the panel. Work gloves to protect hands from contamination.

How to properly remove the instrument panel

To quickly dismantle the shield, you need to follow the algorithm below:

Pry up and remove the plate located to the right of the stove. It shows the corresponding icon.

Using a screwdriver, remove the plate to the right of the stove

A screw is visible under the plate. Unscrew it with a screwdriver.

Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the screw hidden under the plate.

Carefully remove the plastic handles from the stove control levers.

The lower heater control knob has already been removed

Now bend the right edge of the panel towards you.

The right edge of the panel is tilted to the right and towards itself

Disconnect the contacts from the stove switch button, marking them.

To remove the panel, disconnect the contacts from the heater switch button

Now you can bend the panel further and remove the speedometer sensor - a gray thick hose. Unscrew the nut on it and move the hose to the side.

The gray thick hose is pulled to the side and the wing nut on it is unscrewed

After removing the nut and washer from the daily mileage reset handle, push the handle inside. It is located just below the panel, to the right of the alarm button (see photo in paragraph 4). Unscrew the nut from the daily mileage reset handle
Now disconnect the large white plugs one by one, having previously marked them.
According to the experience of auto mechanics, there is no particular need to mark the plugs; it is almost impossible to plug them back in incorrectly. The first white plug is removed, the second, located a little deeper, is also removed
At this stage, the air duct is disconnected - the thick white wire in the right corner of the panel; in new cars, the econometer on the panel is connected to it (in the photo it looks above the gray wire). The white econometer wire is located a little further from the opposite edge of the panel
After disconnecting all the wires, remove the red plug. He is there alone, the nest under him is yellow. The last of the three plugs is red and can also be removed
At the final stage, slide the panel to the right so that it comes out of the latches holding the left side. The removed panel was in your hands - dismantling was carried out successfully
The panel remains in your hands. The entire operation usually takes a quarter of an hour.
The panel is assembled in the reverse order.
The VAZ “Seven” became the last classic model of the Volga plant. Nevertheless, the owner of such a car can solve most problems on his own. He can even change the dashboard himself.

Making a beard VAZ 2107

Depending on your skills, imagination and personal preferences, you can develop an individual console (beard) design or implement a ready-made solution by copying the product you like. A beard is a complex spatial structure made from flat parts. To make it, you need patterns, which are best made from hard cardboard. Solid material allows for high precision manufacturing of console parts. If you are not entirely confident in your skills, you can first make a cardboard mock-up of the console. This will ensure the drawings are correct and check how well the new beard fits into the installation location.

The design of a do-it-yourself center console can be very diverse. Typically, the design includes a spacious box placed between the driver and front passenger seats (where the gear shift and handbrake levers are located). It can accommodate compartments for small items, appliances, switches or just coasters for glasses.

After the patterns are made and the console parts are marked, they are cut out of plywood with a jigsaw. It is better to connect parts using self-tapping screws and glue. The first will allow you to fix the elements motionlessly while the glue sets. This is the easiest and most reliable way to connect console parts.

Price policy

At the time it went on sale, the “Seven” was the most expensive classic Zhiguli model. The new car was valued at nine thousand rubles, which was 600 rubles more expensive than the other “luxury” model of the Togliatti plant - 2106. Now this sedan is available to almost everyone.

Car	Cost (rubles)
VAZ 2107	from 12 to 190 thousand

Self-production: frame

Creating a VAZ beard entirely with your own hands may seem like a difficult task, but in reality this is not entirely true. It is enough to select special drawings on the Internet, stock up on materials for work and read the tuning instructions. Initially, the driver must work on the frame, choosing the optimal model as a template. Practice shows that birch plywood is the most popular. Its thickness should be seven millimeters. It has won positive feedback from owners largely due to its quality and increased level of strength as part of the tuning parts.

To do the work yourself, you will also need vinyl leather, wooden blocks with a cross-section of 2x2.5 centimeters and one tube of epoxy glue. Before you start processing plywood, you must first create a cardboard template. For this, cardboard material with good strength is used. Each mark must be transferred to the plywood. You can make adjustments before cutting the holes and shaping them into the desired shape. The phrase “measure twice, cut once” perfectly fits the description of this stage. After perfectly copying the applied dimensions, you can pick up a jigsaw and begin to carefully cut out the console structure along the contours.

Popular opinion

Lada seventh model received flattering reviews from owners. Many people love this car for its laconic design and powerful engines. However, the body is prone to rust and even a minor chip can “bloom.”

It is worth noting that car enthusiasts are trying to adjust this Russian sedan to modern standards of style and comfort, and therefore do-it-yourself tuning in its various manifestations is common among people.

Some are trying in every possible way to embellish the appearance of the car and install more comfortable seats or a powerful audio system in the interior, while others are upgrading the chassis and engines.

An example of tuning for every taste and budget can be found on the forum dedicated to this VAZ model or watch the corresponding video.

How to create a beard: step-by-step instructions

Creating a beard with your own hands is a rather difficult task that must be performed with extreme precision. After making the frame, you can create bars and then insert them into the designated place. Once their installation is completed, you can begin tightening the frame using self-tapping screws. Since we are creating a VAZ beard with an armrest, it is recommended to steam the plywood in hot boiled water before starting work. This will allow you to achieve better ductility of the material during processing. Steaming the plywood will also make it possible to solve the problem associated with the transition to a narrower part between the front seats and a wider one where the radio is located. As soon as the entire tuning structure is ready, it must be dried. This process usually takes about two days.

Next, the owner must create a bent plywood insert with his own hands, in which there is a small hole. It is used to create free space for placing a lever. The workpiece will have to be boiled to give it the desired shape. Some VAZ owners use a simple kitchen sink wall. Once the part is processed, the element will have to be completely dried.

Trial

European accent

In its appearance, the seventh model Lada resembles many European analogues of those years, which, without a doubt, is a compliment to the domestic sedan. Attention is drawn to the harmonious proportions of the body, a large chrome-plated radiator grille, and bumpers with square contours. The optics, both front and rear, are combined into monoblocks.

Priority - amenities

Despite the fact that the “Seven” belongs to the category of ennobled “classics”, the quality of finishing materials is inferior to those in models 2103/6. Namely, the plastic of the front panel is very hard and explosive. The door cards are covered with rough dermantine, and the seats are covered with branded fabric.

conclusions

The beard of VAZ cars makes it possible to significantly simplify driving comfort. Both the driver and the passenger will not have to reach for the radio. Depending on the design, you can also place additional cells here to store parts or small personal items. It usually takes several days to create a part. You need to be prepared for this right away. Under no circumstances should you start by cutting plywood, as there is a high chance that you will not be able to install it. A cardboard blank will allow you to modernize the design taking into account individual needs. Of course, in addition to creating a beard with your own hands, you can also seek help from a specialized car service. But why, if this method will save a lot of money? Therefore, feel free to take on interior tuning, starting with the console!

Additional Helpful Tips

The owner of a VAZ car has the opportunity to make a beard himself from scratch. But before starting work, it is highly recommended to study the drawings on the Internet. A large number of other drivers of VAZ 2107, 2106 and 2105 have published their options for creating a beard with an individual appearance and corresponding drawings.

Be responsible in determining the optimal sizes. In addition to the dimensions of the radio, the amount of usable space in the cabin is also taken into account. The console should not create any discomfort for the legs of the driver and passenger. Under no circumstances should you proceed straight to cutting out the plywood. A do-it-yourself cardboard blank will allow you to accurately assess the degree of comfort. A custom console for a VAZ is created to simplify access to the radio, taking into account the location of the gear lever. But here you can also make convenient compartments for storing small personal items. Again, a pre-created blank made of hard cardboard will help with this.

Introduction

The domestic VAZ-2107 is in many ways inferior to its foreign counterparts; many car enthusiasts complain about the too simple interior decoration, which does not have original features. However, competent tuning of the VAZ-2107 torpedo allows you to transform the vehicle beyond recognition, raising the level of previous parts to standard elements of expensive foreign cars. Due to its simplicity and classic design, the dashboard can be modified by the owner as much and as desired. Let's consider the main points of improvements to the torpedo and beard of the domestic VAZ-2107.