Thread: Motor Options????

Has the current motor overheated? A hardness test on the block would be recommended as this may discount option 2. Option 1 will definately be the cheapest option, but does have a fair degree of risk associated with it.

Thanks for posting :-) I'm glad you did!

Two options if it were me.

1) Rebuild. Add a few extras such as top hat liners, head work, torquer camshaft.

2) LS1/2. Tuning options opened right up just by slotting it in.

What are your plans with the P38? Lifetime or long-term vehicle, or will you sell it and move on in a few years?

Short term, a good second hand engine will save you money.

Long term you will appreciate the rebuild.

Lifetime you will appreciate an LS1/2.

Cheers
Keithy

Kel, I would think it depends on other factors as well...such as.
How is the condition of the rest,
How long do you plan keeping it....etc
If it were mine I'd rebuild if possible.

Thanks for the comments so far.......

I would like to keep the car and get it set up for a little more touring and off road work. The rest of the car is in great nick.... a few Rangie issues, but nothing else major.

Yes... unfortunately the motor has overheated

Keithy P38...... I like the idea of the LS1/2 option, but havent found much on this conversion so know very little about it. I was under the impression that the electronics compatibility side of it all is a "no go"

I also had in mind a lexus V8 conversion, but again wasnt a $$$ viable option

I would like to know more on the LS1/2 option

Hope this extra info helps

Cheers

Kel

I would install a rebuilt replacement 4.6 with top hat liners or have that engine rebuilt with top hat liners.

I was doing some research on LS engine swaps into P38's a month or two ago to gather intel for my future plans. Thus far (in Australia) I'm aware of 3 that have been converted, possibly 4. All of which are GEMS P38's.

On the international forums there are a few too, same again, GEMS converted to LS.

The consensus from what I read was that "tricking" the Motronics ECU to believe it is still participating in the operation of a P38 (for BECM's sake) is harder than getting a dinner date with the Queen.

There is one lad who I'm a bit hazy on the details, has an LSX (iron block) in his but am unsure if GEMS or Thor.

More research needed!

It can't be that hard right?

Cheers
Keithy

The "lad" who used the iron block is "Leftlanetruckin" on the Rangerovers.net forum. He's a very resourceful chap with seemingly endless resources to get stuff sourced at a reasonable price and machined to his satisfaction ... he had to get a bespoke adapter plate made for the transmission, a bespoke timing wheel for the CKPS etc ...has been a very interesting, albeit complicated path.

Another alternative is a 2.7TDV6 as per http://www.bodylogicuk.com/index.php/11/327170/ The cost however is likely more than the current worth of the vehicle. Plus lots of mucking around.

I would probably heed Slunnie's advice and go with a top-hat refurb... stick with minimum complexity

Originally Posted by Kel Jean

Keithy P38...... I like the idea of the LS1/2 option, but havent found much on this conversion so know very little about it. I was under the impression that the electronics compatibility side of it all is a "no go"

There might be some info in the thread that goes with this post:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range...ml#post1827902