Thread: diesel into P38

Originally Posted by Vern

The Mazda engine is very common, its in all the Mazda t3500 little trucks you see getting around, good little engine, a bit smoother than the 4bdi. Pretty sure its the same block/engine as in the t4000 (4 litre variant)

Good motor in the t4000 not a power house but makes good tourque all day long our GVM loaded is 8t she know's it when the hills come..... on the hwy.

I don't think you'd have much issue making a Tdi/auto combo to fit the P38 transfer box. The 4HP22 is used in a shed load of different vehicles with bell housing and tail housing being the main differences.

You'd possibly need to attach the P38 tail housing, but that shouldn't be a major issue.
Easier to get a 4 litre car as the 4.6's used the 4HP24 which is a slightly different box.

From what I've heard the 2.8 Mitsubishi is a pretty horrible conversion, apparently the sump touches the front axle when it's sitting at access height or at any extreme of articulation.

The 2.8 TGV had good reviews about it, whilst the 3.1 Isuzu is also a good motor, just a bigger version of the 2.8 found in early Jackaroos and similar. The 3 litre is the one that has issues.

I have a 3.5 Mazda in my 110, would perhaps consider it for a Rangie, brilliant lump, and probably fairy cheap out there?

I like the idea of a TDV6 in a P38 apparently the Simtek one will crack 40mpg, although all in the conversion is about £6-7k by the time you've bought the engine, adapters, and the ECU.

Alternatively there's the compushift ECU that will run the gearbox.

Thanks for all your replies,

Yes the tdV6 would be great, bit on the costly side but definitely one for the lottery wish list!

Thanks for the information on where to find the mazda engine, will be looking into that over the weekend, I have read that with a decent intercooler and a tweak they go well enough in turbo form, and the 4 litre is the same block, something else to research I think!

Will definitely look into the 4 litre Rangie if the gearbox is easier to work with, again something I hadn't really considered so thanks for that as well.

Would anyone know which sensors the engine ecu would need to still run without the engine, and the aftermarket ecu to run the gearbox, does it also keep the immobiliser from activating?

So many questions, thanks for any help people can give.

Wouldn't the logical thing be to get a rolled D2 and swap in the Td5, your choice of manual or auto and the much better LT230...?! That's what I'd do... Then CHIP IT!!!!

I was under the impression that the D2 drive train didn't join onto the P38a, isn't the drive out of the transfer case on the wrong side?

That's what I thought too... Otherwise we'd all have lt230's

Originally Posted by Keithy P38

That's what I thought too... Otherwise we'd all have lt230's

Correct, the P38 has the t/shaft drop on the passenger side, swap in a couple of D2 diffs and your done.

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

Wouldn't the logical thing be to get a rolled D2 and swap in the Td5, your choice of manual or auto and the much better LT230...?! That's what I'd do... Then CHIP IT!!!!

Bill was of the opinion that an LT230 could be run backwards. Bit of a mounting and lever linkage challenge, but that's all.

Otherwise, I think the TD5 and TD5 auto could be siamesed into the P38 transfer without too much hassle. TDV6 is certainly the best plan if money doesn't matter.

$1.65, cry me a river. $2.32 here for 91.