p38 info

[cal415]

Hi All,
I am looking to buy a p38, specially a 4.6 HSE around late 90s era, but i was just after a bit of info on what to look for - i had a bit of a search around but cant seem to find specifics.

I looked at my first one yesterday, it was the first time i had every really looked at one and i was very surprised at the difference in the chassis and running gear, overall it was a very nice car, but on opening the oil filler cap i found milky sludge under it - the owner had told me it previously had some overheating issues and he had replaced the radiator which fixed it. This rules this particular car out for me, but how common is this? i suspect this may have had a slipped liner or similar? does the 4.6 suffer from this more than the 4.0?

Also can anyone tell me the differences regarding the engine management side of things, i have read a little about GEMS vs bosch? which is prefered and When did this change over? is there an easy way to tell what they have?

I am looking at one tomorrow which from the pics i have seen is in very good condition but it has had the EAS removed, if i buy it i would like to reinstall the EAS - is there much in the way of after market gear available for the EAS? i have spent a bit of time playing with air suspenion now with my SLS on the d2 and my 130 with full air suspension, so i am not new to it and know how good it can be when set up correctly.

The reason i am buying one is for my wife, We just purchased 500 acres of land not far from home but the access road is pretty harsh, she wants an evoque, but until we sell her VE calais we cant afford to buy one so the p38 will be stop gap and once she is done with it it will be my turn to play with it :twisted:

Has anyone attempted a LT230 and diff swap out on a p38? i wonder how a p38 would go heavily modified for comp use :)

[wayneg]

You cant use an Lt230, the diffs are on the passenger side, not the drivers. As for changing diff`s, Why. The P38 has very strong 4pin diffs in the rear, Thor / Bosch cars with 4 wheel traction control have the same in the front. Gems a 2 pin
The Bosch changeover started in late 1999. The Gems oblong plenum chamber on top the engine is replaced with a bunch of bananas chamber, easy to spot. Better fuel and more torque.
Radiators clog over the years and do cause overheating. Slipped liners are also not uncommon. Tread carefully if you suspect problems however a god run in stop start conditions should expose any weakness.
Factor in $1000 for new airspring, radiator and valve block / compressor re-build on any car that has not had them replaced.
Thor cars are more $ and those with air springs changed for coils less $. If you want the EAS dont bother with any car that has had it removed the bits that remain will not doubt be knackered just find a car with it there and working
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/08/1528.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/04/892.jpg

[RR P38]

Milky deposit under the filler cap= RUN.

I have never had any trouble with my fuel injection in 13yrs and I have a 95, If the Thor system is better it must be perfection, the only negative I can see on the Thor is that it has o2 sensors.
If you put a blind fold on and drove:angel: both an early and later model the only difference you would see/feel is more torque and slightly smoother running of the later model....assuming they are both in the same condition and milage.

[p38arover]

The GEMS is much easier to work on than a Thor.

Try changing a coil pack!

[Keithy P38]

Or a rocker cover gasket!

The P38 is starting to appear on the road in modified form more and more these days! Most people are trying to pioneer their own mods, the LT230 swap would be a big one - yet to be done (probably due to $$). If your pockets are deep then you can do anything!

My best advice if buying one that you plan to modify, get one with a very clean service record and no mods. Lucas or gems does not seem to matter as I've not heard any major reliability differences on this forum.

Not exactly sure that it was late '99 that the Bosch motors came out as mine is a Feb '99 build and it's a Bosch 4.6.

Good luck mate!

[wayneg]

If you put a blind fold on and drove:angel: both an early and later model the only difference you would see/feel is more torque and slightly smoother running of the later model....assuming they are both in the same condition and milage.
The Thor cars in addition to the Bosch engine management has four wheel traction control with a stronger 4 pin front diff. The brake modulator does not suffer the same catastrophic failures as the gems being a different part.
I believe the gearbox is slightly different but not sure in what way. Front and rear lights have colour changes and foglights have changed lenses from 2000

[benji]

Gearbox was the same but with uprated software.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Benji, is it the same software as the D2?