Thread: What have you done to your P38?

Good list Keith.

For me, I am still just 16 months into p38 addiction, in that time I have written one p38 off because I did not have a snorkel and went in deepish water, and bought a second p38

Running 255/70/16 BFG KM2 I want 265/80/16
XROX bull bar - 1st one made!
HID spotties
22" LED light bar
Dual battery set up in an arc pac
Gen III airbags arrived and going in this weekend.- Keith I am looking at your mods on this with interest.
GME 3500 UHF

The list of wants is endless... Looking to hear about what engine mods people have made to get a few more horses under the hood.

Good thread

Install access panel under rear seat for the fuel pump (as on early RR classics)
Especially if you have a Southdown fuel tank guard.
A marine type hatch is another option

You got me thinking. This is my 2nd p38 (definition of insanity) and I've had it 3.5 years. I'm in too deep to even think about getting rid. She's getting there but like most there is still a long to do list. Apart from replacing all fluids and filters and the usual servicing, this is what has been done to Nora:

2010

Headlining.
New duff duff stereo allowing removal of subwoofer & allowing iPod/Bluetooth etc.
O rings.
New poly bushes.
Twin st stl exhaust.
Gen III bags plus koni shocks.
New plugs & magnacor leads.
K&N filter - but I'll revert back to filter box with the snorkel install.

Bearmach side steps powder coated and fitted.

Brush guards fitted over lights.

New leather handbrake and gear level knobs and gators.

2011

EAS manual kit fitted with extra receiver outlet under bonnet.

Sidewinder battery box fitted off side rear (120ah)

2012

Raised air suspension +25mm plus modded bump stops by +20mm.

Roof rails powder coated and fitted. I use a rhino rack on the rails.

6 x 16"x8" spare rims powder coated as spares - still to be shod with muddies.

Rear swing away wheel carrier fabbed with led spotlight. Also made a Jerry can holder for carrier plus extra Jerry can frame that slots in to hitch.

18" BF at's fitted to 5 hurricane wheels.

Fitted extra deep cycle battery (65ah) in spare wheel well along with compressor which has outlet on rear bumper. The switch is from a remote engine cranking lead so I can activate the 2nd compressor whilst at wheel.

New Deda cranking battery.

LED lights fitted inside and out.

Bi-xenons fitted to headlight.

2x 75w LED light bars fitted.

2013

Rear shelf/drawer built with further drawer and fridge slide in progress. Design allows access to sub floor for extra storage.

Extra LED light installed in boot with switch panel in rear corner. This also controls the led telescopic spotlight.

Made rear seats slightly more vertical - to allow bigger fridge. The slope of rear window plus seats really narrows the usable space on the boot.

MCC bull bar and winch fitted.

EAS isolation switch fitted.

On the to be done list:

Currently getting spare engine rebuilt. More hp desired. Will sell the current GEMs which is only on 150k, to help offset the cost.

LPG donut tank and front end system sitting in garage.

To decide best option for snorkel.

Fit diff guards -sitting in garage.

Make steering guard.

Fit cargo barrier - I have one of the oem dog guards sitting at my folks place in the UK. Wondering if it's regarded as strong enough?

Extra cig lighter and usb outlets in place of ashtray.

Speedo calibration.

Watching the 2"lift projects with baited breath. Should I? Could I? Would I?

There's probably more and no doubt it will demand more over time but it's getting to where I want it to be now. It would be nice to do more pleasure km's rather than the"self fulfilling" ones I always seem to be doing. My wife's patience I wearing a bit thin! Along with the bank balance. It'll be nice when the hemorrhaging stops.

How could I forget diff lockers on the to do list!

Oh yeah. Currently covering the false wood on the door cards and dash with some of that 3D vinyl stuff. Brushed ali. Will post results.

Removed cruise control the other day to.allow more snorkel room. Hence why I've been wondering about the evap canister.

Both got a bit there! And the fuel pump access hole is a good idea for sure! I haven't needed it yet but I'm sure that day will come!

Gotta ask, how do the light bars perform? I've never seen one in action!

Seems a common thing for a few of us to be on P38 #2 as well! Like a few, my first one ended early due to water as well!

Love a few of the ideas... 4"extra travel is quite a lot, sounds great!

Weve only had our p38 on the road for a little over 12 months. So far we've got only a couple of things.

Second battery in rear under floor (jaycar 140 amp controller with 2awg cable for future winch, & battery charging in camper trailer. 8awg lead going through the body behind sub for future switch pannel)

Got a second set of rims for mts.

Put in an eclipse head unit in (made the world on difference!)

Put a high torque cam in, noticable increase in torque from 1800rpm. When we bought the car it had a chip to allow it to advance further than normal for lpg, and to two are starting to work well together.

Have a rear bar, winch, uhf, spotlights sitting in the shed.
And d series ecu and 99 valve block in the shed too for a later date.

I was looking forward to an update on your cam benji! You rekon it's a good thing hey? Would be interesting to get comparative before/after synonymous graphs to see how much of a difference it's actually made! Makes the debate on wether to keep the 4.6 or send it elsewhere for an LS conversion instead much harder... In stock form an LS1 doesn't really have that much in terms of torque on the humble 4.6 (405nm vs 470nm for the LS1). Considering the size difference you'd expect more torque than that. I guess they have a smaller stroke than bore so they were bound to be revvers anyway.