Garage54 has unveiled a fresh project from its crew of inventive builders. This time the team outfits a classic VAZ with an electric booster, a modification that isn’t a factory option but a creative exploration born from hands on tinkering and practical experimentation. The budget for this ambitious upgrade hovered around five thousand rubles, a modest amount for a venture that blends usefulness with curiosity and a dash of audacity.
A surprising turn in the build is the integration of certain Toyota components. The team kicked things off with careful lab checks, laying out the parts on a workbench to inspect fit, function, and safety before proceeding to installation on the Kopeyka, the nickname bestowed on the chosen VAZ model. This method allowed the team to analyze the system in a controlled setting before any in-car testing began, reducing risk and guiding decisions.
The newly added components place a notable load on the steering system. In motion, the effects are clear and meaningful. The steering becomes lighter and more responsive, yet the overall balance and the wheel return to center remain dependable, a welcome surprise amid the mechanical changes. The crew noted that the car’s handling can feel sensitive when road surfaces shift, occasionally nudging the vehicle toward drift if the dynamics are pushed too far. Still, the team valued a steering setup that remains straightforward and predictable for everyday driving.
The project highlights the careful tradeoffs among weight, steering response, and control. While the modification aims to boost performance, the focus stays on preserving reliable centering and predictable reactions when the car encounters uneven pavements or aggressive inputs. The findings indicate that a well-planned upgrade can sustain core driving characteristics while delivering noticeable gains in efficiency and immediacy of response.
Beyond this build, readers can explore related coverage of shelved or experimental powertrain ideas from Garage54 and other automotive enthusiasts who document their projects online. For those curious to dive deeper, the original video series offers a step by step look at how such a conversion performs under real world conditions. Source: Garage54 YouTube