The Combat Crew blog team took on a storied challenge: reviving a Soviet icon, the ZIL-130, which had stood idle for years. The aging engine was so worn that a fresh powerplant had to be installed, and the whole repair sequence stretched across nearly a week.
Hidden beneath a layer of snow in the owner’s yard lay the engine destined for the car. It seemed that the component had been retrieved a bit carelessly from another ZIL, resulting in misaligned parts and a few fragile casualties along the way, including damaged spark plugs, bent mounts, and a missing dipstick for oil checks.
With steady hands and careful planning, the engine was restored to operation. The ZIL was moved on a GAZ-66 to a designated parking area where other project cars from the bloggers’ circle were gathered. For the lift and precise placement, a crane assembled from a ZIL-157 chassis and wheels borrowed from a missile carrier proved to be an effective solution.
Technicians dedicated six days to the assembly, testing, and tuning required to bring the machine back to life. When the moment came, the engine fired up smoothly on the first try and the truck rolled out for an off-road trial. The successful test confirmed that the refurbished powertrain was delivering the performance expected of this rugged vehicle, even in challenging terrain.
- Drive can be read in Telegram.
In the broader community, a call to action followed. A voting event titled Behind the Wheel Grand Prix invited readers to help identify the standout car releases of the year, inviting participation from enthusiasts who follow the project closely.
As a token of appreciation for participants, the organizers planned a small raffle among survey respondents, featuring a few quirky prizes for early entrants, with the drawing set to occur by late February.