1987 LADA NIVA LEGEND

Symptoms: Hard starting when cold or hot, Black smoke from exhaust, Rough idle and stalling, Fuel smell in engine bay from overflow

Fix: The Weber-style carb develops worn float needles and jets clog from old fuel sitting in these rarely-driven trucks. Full carb rebuild kit plus fuel filter, fuel pump diaphragm inspection, and tank cleaning if it sat. 3-5 hours labor depending on how far you go into the fuel system.

Estimated cost: $350-800

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Severe clunking on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration through floorboards, Difficulty shifting into gear, Visible drivetrain sag when parked on level ground

Fix: Rubber mounts disintegrate from age and oil contamination. The transmission can actually contact the tunnel if both front and rear mounts fail simultaneously. Requires lifting powertrain to replace both mounts plus transfer case mount. 4-6 hours labor, and you're sourcing aftermarket mounts since OEM availability is spotty.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Overheating under load, Milky oil or oil in coolant reservoir, Rough running and misfires

Fix: The cast iron head develops cracks between valve seats or the gasket blows from inadequate torque retention and thermal cycling. Head removal, pressure testing, possible replacement if cracked, machining, new gasket set, cam and lifter inspection while you're in there. 12-16 hours labor for full R&R with proper prep work.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Loud ticking or tapping from valve cover, worse when cold, Loss of power and rough idle, Metal shavings in oil filter, Occasional backfiring through intake

Fix: Flat-tappet cam design with marginal oil pressure when worn or using wrong oil spec. Lifters pit and cam lobes wear down. Requires head removal, full lifter set, camshaft replacement, often new rocker arms and valve adjustment. 10-14 hours labor if combined with head gasket service, longer if pistons need attention from debris.

Estimated cost: $1,500-2,800

Symptoms: Coolant dripping from bell housing area or sides of block, Slow coolant loss over weeks, Visible rust staining on engine block, Overheating if leak becomes severe

Fix: Thin steel freeze plugs rust through from the inside, especially if coolant wasn't maintained. Rear plugs require transmission removal for access. If one fails, replace all of them while you're in there because they're the same age. 6-10 hours labor depending on how many are accessible without major disassembly.

Estimated cost: $600-1,400

Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup and acceleration, Excessive oil consumption, quart every 500 miles or less, Low compression across multiple cylinders, Loss of power on hills, Blow-by visible from oil cap

Fix: Soft cylinder walls and inadequate ring tension lead to bore glazing and ring collapse. Full teardown, bore honing or oversized pistons, new rings, bearings, seals, gaskets. Many shops recommend full rebuild at this point given parts availability concerns. 24-32 hours labor for competent rebuild with machine work outsourced.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000