2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
The GAZ 66 became the most common all-wheel drive truck in the USSR. The car, nicknamed "shishiga", was produced by the Gorky Automobile Plant for more than 35 years. Over the years, almost one million GAZ vehicles of 66 different configurations have left the plant.
General information about the model
During the production of GAZ 66 has undergone several major upgrades. One of them happened in 1985-1987. In 1985, the car was equipped with a new valve for pneumatic actuation of the trailer brakes. Next to the towing device, two connecting heads were installed to drive the brakes. One head served to connect the trailer brake drive line, the second - for the brake control system. The base model upgraded in this way began to be designated GAZ 6611. After a while, safety windshields of the triplex type began to be used on it.
Since it became possible to operate the car with a trailer, the lights of the road train appeared on the cab roof - three separate ceiling lamps with orange color filters. The lights were switched on by a separate toggle switch with light indication on the instrument panel GAZ 6611.
Modifications in the production process
EngineThe truck was equipped with a closed crankcase ventilation system. Crankcase gases were pumped out into the intake manifold and air filter. An oil separator was used to clean the gases from oil vapors. The oil filler-mounted crankcase ventilation filter has been removed.
GAZ 6611 from the very beginning of production was equipped with a heater with increased performance. The battery box received a different design - instead of steel walls and a base, a steel base and a plastic cover were used.
From the end of 1986, lighting technology began to meet international standards. The transition to new elements took about a year. A year later, GAZ 6611 was equipped with reinforced main suspension plates and more wear-resistant shock absorbers. In 1987, a set of measures was introduced to improve the safety of car operation. Improvements touched the brake system, which received two boosters and a new master cylinder.
It should be noted that until 1987, turning on and off the direction indicators on the GAZ 6611 was carried out manually, with a toggle switch on the instrument panel. This archaic solution was replaced by the usual switch on the steering column. The alarm system, the control button of which was placed on the instrument panel, has also become a novelty.
The introduction of a separate brake system led to a change in the instrument panel, on which additional warning lamps appeared. To control the air pressure ina pressure gauge was installed in the brake system.
The off-road performance of the GAZ 6611 was constantly improved. Thanks to this shape, it was possible to ensure the tightness of the tire beads and the possibility of reducing the pressure in them to 0.5 kg/sq.cm.
Change in engine design
Since 1985, measures have been taken to modernize and improve the reliability of the GAZ 6611 engine. New camshaft drive gears, spark plugs and a voltage regulator on the generator were gradually introduced.
At the beginning of 1988, to improve the technical characteristics of the GAZ 6611, the design of the cylinder heads was changed. They used valve channels and a combustion chamber of a special highly turbulent shape. Thanks to this design, the engine could run on lean mixtures, which had a positive effect on fuel efficiency. Engine power remained unchanged at 120 hp
"Shishiga" today
Despite the fact that the first GAZ 66 appeared in 1965, the car is actively used today. For owners of shishigas, high cross-country ability and simplicity of design are often more important than cabin comfort or fuel efficiency. Often GAZ 6611 is used as a standard heavy off-road vehicle. There are many different companies that offer car modification services. It is possible to replace a gasoline engine with a diesel one, change suspensions and much more.
In the winter of 2016-2017, a comparativetest called "GAZ 6611 vs Mercedes Unimog". The video can be easily found online. The modified GAZ 6611 with a non-native 140-horsepower Cummins diesel engine took part in the test. "Shishiga" and the German car were finalized by one tuning studio. During the test, the cars had to overcome three sections of rough terrain. The final victory in the competition with a score of 3:2 was won by Unimog.
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