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Niva 5-speeds had
a first gear ratio of 1:3.667, and the 4-speeds had either
the same 3.667 or a higher ratio 3.242 first
gear (see
discussion 
).
But some older 4-speed Lada classic saloons and estates (eg the 1200, see table below) had 3.75:1 1st gear. So for any Niva, especially the 3.242s, there's an advantage to using this early saloon gearbox for a lower 1st gear crawl speed. See magazine article below for DIY guide.
All RWD classic Lada and Niva gearboxes are interchangeable if you keep the same number of gears (4 or 5). You can also replace a 5-speed box with 4-speed one or vice versa, but you'll need the 4-speed gearbox's rear mount and cross-member as well as they're slightly different to the 5-speed's. As a bonus I understand the 4-speed is stronger than the 5-speed.
4-speed vs 5-speed gearbox
4-speed mount vs 5-speed mount
I believe the Fiat 124 4-speed should also be a straight swap for the Lada 4-speed, however the Fiat 124 5-speeds are different to Lada's 5-speed (slightly longer, and a completely different rear mount iirc) so need a bit of work to fit.
I'm guessing it would be possible to hybrid the lower 1st gear set from a Lada saloon 4-speed into a Lada 5-speed 'box, but I've no record of this being done.
Gearbox ratios:
| 1200:
2101, 21011, 2102, 2103 |
1600:
2106, Niva (4-speed)* |
Riva:
2107, 2104, 2105, 4-speed Niva (4-speed)** |
Riva:
2107, 2104, 2105, 5-speed Niva (5-speed) |
Seat 124 | Fiat 124 | |
| 1 | 1:3.75 | 1:3.242 | 1:3.667 | 1:3.667 | 1:3.242 | 1:3.667 |
| 2 | 1:2.30 | 1:1.989 | 1:2.100 | 1:2.100 | 1:1.989 | 1:2.100 |
| 3 | 1:1.49 | 1:1.289 | 1:1.361 | 1:1.361 | 1:1.289 | 1:1.361 |
| 4 | 1:1.00 | 1:1.000 | 1:1.000 | 1:1.000 | 1:1.000 | 1:1.000 |
| 5 | - | - | - | 1:0.82 | 1:0.789 | 1:0.881 |
| R | 1:3.87 | 1:3.340 | 1:3.53 | 1:3.53 | 1:3.340 | 1:3.526 |
* Maybe some 2107s & Nivas
** Maybe not; see
discussion
If you're unsure what box is in your Niva, or what the 'box is you've just bought of Ebay? See below on how to work out which is which without taking it apart
(Author: Melegh Gábor (gm), last revised: 2007-01-12)
Can the gearbox type/model be recognized
by its casing?
Can I measure the ratio somehow on a gearbox not removed from the car?
Unfortunately the gearboxes are not labeled, all the covering parts of it have
the same part number. The speedometer cable pinion is the easiest to remove,
but forget that - its teeth number reflects to the differential ratio, not to
the gearbox ratio(s). On a used Lada there can be any differential (1:3.9, 1:4.1,
1:4.3, 1:4.44), you cannot determine the gearbox of it.
The most informative method is to put the gearbox into 2nd gear, and turn the
crank carefully, about 2 turns. (720 degrees). Before doing that, mark the drive-shaft
with a chalk. Now, you have about 2.00 turns on the crankshaft (gearbox input).
Examine the drive-shaft and slightly adjust the crankshaft while the drive-shaft
(gearbox output) shows exactly one turn. To do that, you have to creep under
the car and back out a few times.
1 turn on the drive-shaft needs almost 2 turns on the crankshaft, if it was
a 2106 gearbox.
2.1 means 2105,
2.3 means 2101.
I don't recommend removing the bottom cover of the gearbox. Theoretically you
can count the teeth of the input drive-wheel (28 teeth or 29 teeth). You can
also examine the 1st gear gearwheel: 14 or 15 teeth. Practically this won't
work since you cannot mark the starting tooth of your count. The greasy-oily-dirty
mixture within the gearbox and covering the cogwheels will clear any marks you
make.
Also see:
Low-ratio Transfer-case modifications
Fault finding & Rebuilding the Gearbox
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