Do-it-yourself MAZ tuning. MAZ-500: cabin tuning

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

A car is much more than just a means of transportation, especially for the driver and owner. Actually, the car has long been the subject of an image that they brag about and in which, one might say, they live. And sometimes in the truest sense of the word, when it comes to truckers - days can turn into weeks, and all this time passes in the cab of a truck.

MAZ-500

This car began its history after 1957, that is, back in the days of the USSR.

Until this time, the Minsk plant produced a model marked 200, but everything becomes obsolete sometime. This sad fate does not bypass cars.

In general, these flatbed trucks have been produced for twelve years, which is quite a lot. And even now on Russian roads you can find such cars. Like many other things, trucks in the Soviet Union were made to last, but not always for people. But more on that later.

Design Features

First of all, it should be noted that this truck was the firstcabover model produced in the USSR. Progress was rather slow at the time, although in Europe and the United States, this layout was already commonplace, not new.

Of the advantages of this design, when the cabin is located exactly above the engine, one can single out a significant increase in the loading platform. For such cars, this characteristic was almost the key. And here there was a change literally by an order of magnitude - by two tons at once. This was a significant breakthrough for the Minsk Automobile Plant.

It must also be said that this design made it possible to significantly reduce the overall weight and dimensions of the machine. In addition, driving such a car has become easier. This was also influenced by an increase in driver comfort - more modern shock absorbers and springs, new-design seats. All this played only in favor of the new model.

Tuning - what is it?

In any form, tuning means changing the vehicle. There are several types of it. First of all, motorists are usually engaged in internal improvement, digging into the insides of the car. By doing this, they try to achieve other indicators on the road (usually higher). This is usually used either for old or for initially not very strong cars in this regard.

There is also an external component. All sorts of moldings, spoilers, bumpers and others like them.

In general, this affects the technical characteristics of the machine, but only indirectly. In fact, this is done solely to improve the appearance,according to the tastes of the owner. Paints, vinyl stickers, etc. are used for the same

Can trucks be upgraded?

Actually, this is a completely separate issue. Mainly because the power and the overall layout of the internal parts (meaning the engine mechanism and other stuffing) are verified right at the factory. Here to change is only to spoil. But sometimes there are enthusiasts who manage to shove the motor and everything else from a more modern car into an old model. All this is done as a personal experiment and has practically no practical application.

Tuning MAZ, in turn, like any other truck, will focus on a few other things. For example, to improve driver comfort while driving. Or just bringing the machine itself into a divine state. Considering the years when the release was discontinued, this option cannot be discounted either.

Tuning MAZ trucks

Here things are somewhat more complicated than even for other trucks. The fact is that parts of the machine are simply no longer produced. Therefore, you will have to select something exclusively “by eye” and on your own. Naturally, this is fraught with some inconvenience.

First of all, this is a discrepancy between the various running gears. 40 years have passed, and MAZ tuning has become more of a facelift than anything else. But discarding other options is not worth it.

Buying Problems

You should know that buying a truck built before you were born is a prettyrisky. The fact is that tuning MAZ is your smallest problem if you still decide to buy.

The main thing will be to bring the machine into working condition. Of course, then everything was done in good faith, but even metal eventually turns into dust. Therefore, follow security measures before giving away your hard-earned money. Carefully inspect the chosen car, sit inside and evaluate the general condition of the cab. On MAZ trucks, cabin tuning, by the way, is the most common part of the changes.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to drive this truck at least once.

It is quite possible to agree with the owner on this matter. If the refusal is not motivated by anything, then this is not the best sign for you.

What will need to change?

It is clear that improving a car, especially such an overgrown one, is a rather long process. But where do you need to start tuning the MAZ cab with your own hands, so this is from checking the shock absorption springs of the cab and the seats installed inside.

This is a worthy choice, especially considering that shock absorbers take a huge load when the truck is running. Therefore, they may be in worse condition than the machine itself as a whole. Actually, not only replacement, but also additional springs will not hurt you.

The design makes it possible to do such tuning of MAZ.

In the case of the chair, everything is quite simple. There can be many problems at once. First, there may bethe sheets in the springs are broken - they will need to be changed. You will also need to install new rollers to move the chair. They just break especially often, and even in the first years of work. Also, don't be too lazy to check the shock absorbers, because if they are broken, the ride will be very uncomfortable.

MAZ-5440: tuning

This modification of the car, just like the previous model, is characterized by some problems with the temperature in the cabin. The point here is the design of the stove. These are just two radiators that are connected to one motor, and even powered in series.

Given the size of the cabin, it is clear that the stove will not cope with the task. But removing it is quite simple, and at least the engineers can be thanked for this. For replacement, stoves from other similar trucks are perfect. For example, a heater taken from a KamAZ cab will do its job perfectly.

In addition, to enhance the effect, you should either change the rear and side windows to make them more airtight, or simply cover them with some kind of dense material. The latter is the advice of one of today's owners of such a machine, and there is no reason not to believe it.

All these manipulations in general will give you the opportunity to ride without a fur coat even in harsh northern conditions. Of course, it will not be very warm in the cabin, because it is worth remembering that this is a MAZ-500. Tuning the cabin in this configuration will at least allow you to work normally, regardless of the temperature outside the window.

A few useful little things

BFirst of all, I would like to note such an absurdity in the design as reversing mirrors. More precisely, the point is in their fastenings - at a sufficiently high speed or uneven road, it seems that there are no screws at all.

Everything is solved quite simply - by replacing the mirrors themselves, since even other fasteners do not guarantee reliability.

If you plan to use your truck as a tractor, then you should know that more powerful engines (for example, YaMZ 238) take up more space. Therefore, you will have to slightly change the design as a whole, so that everything fits.

Also take into account the fact that the shelf in the cab is not very convenient.

To fully enjoy the cabin with all possible comfort, and this is especially important for long-haul flights, it would be best to lower it lower. You will need a grinder and a welding machine for this, plus experience in handling these devices.

Conclusion

It should be noted that do-it-yourself MAZ tuning is a rather problematic matter.

Remember that all your actions should ultimately increase the usability. If everything is done for more power or looks, it almost never pays off.

With any changes in the design, do not rush. If you are not sure that everything is in order, it is better to consult with a specialist in a car service. Otherwise, this may not lead to the most pleasant consequences. See also examples of other optionsimprovements (there is a photo in our article).

So, we found out how you can modify the cab of a truck like MAZ with your own hands.