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Thread: 2 questions about wheel sizes and storage for a 1998 P38 - ??

  1. #1
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    2 questions about wheel sizes and storage for a 1998 P38 - ??

    Hello Folks - Iam newly blessed with a 98 P38 bought from original owner with 98k km's - and its fair to say iam in deep deep love already.

    Ive got a couple queries about wheels for the old girl and would welcome any inputs / guidance folks here might share:

    1 - how far can i drive / shouldnt i drive, with 1 wheel (the spare @ 245 / 70 R16) smaller than the other 3 (@ 265 / 70 R16)? I hear there is high risk of transfer case damage and that only the right sized spare should be used. This leads to my second question.

    2 - whats the least painful way to stow a wheel in the 98 RR? The from Factory wheel well below rear floor, takes up to a 245 / 70 R16 only. And Id like to avoid external bars eg tailgate or roof, so internal storage preferred. Older RR's had the spare secured vertically in the rear compartment which seems optimal. Has anyone done this before? Any guidance on parts / process most welcome.

    My usage would be within a few hundred km's range from home / help - so if i could use the 245 / 70 to 'get out of trouble' (to tyre fix maximum 200kms away) then i could use the factory wheel well = problem solved.

    If i was going truly remote and long range id get the roof racks / external syste, to be able to carry say 2 x the right sized spare wheels.

    Many thanks guys for any guidance / opinions - and may i wish all well and healthy in these crazy times.
    Cheers
    EC

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by ECX View Post
    Hello Folks - I am newly blessed with a 98 P38 bought from original owner with 98k km's - and its fair to say I am in deep deep love already.

    I've got a couple queries about wheels for the old girl and would welcome any inputs / guidance folks here might share:

    1 - how far can I drive / shouldn't I drive, with 1 wheel (the spare @ 245 / 70 R16) smaller than the other 3 (@ 265 / 70 R16)? I hear there is high risk of transfer case damage and that only the right sized spare should be used. This leads to my second question.

    2 - what's the least painful way to stow a wheel in the 98 RR? The from Factory wheel well below rear floor, takes up to a 245 / 70 R16 only. And Id like to avoid external bars eg tailgate or roof, so internal storage preferred. Older RR's had the spare secured vertically in the rear compartment which seems optimal. Has anyone done this before? Any guidance on parts / process most welcome.

    My usage would be within a few hundred km's range from home / help - so if I could use the 245 / 70 to 'get out of trouble' (to tyre fix maximum 200kms away) then I could use the factory wheel well = problem solved.

    If I was going truly remote and long range id get the roof racks / external system, to be able to carry say 2 x the right sized spare wheels.

    Many thanks guys for any guidance / opinions - and may I wish all well and healthy in these crazy times.
    Cheers
    EC

    Welcome to the madness/mystery/lifestyle
    Should get even better info soon, but if you remove 1 driveshaft and become 2 wheel drive, then okay to drive a bit with same sized tyres on the driving axle. Otherwise, no-no for different sized tyres if you want to keep mobile.

    I have a 1995 RRC LSE (test mule for the P38) and a rear swing out carrier. The carriers can be built quite cheaply, particularly if you have a steel rear bar, but yes it can be a pain if you want to regularly open the back door for shopping etc. Having said that, they don't take long to get used to and I'm keeping mine.
    I'd never recommend storing spares on the roof. Quite apart from the weight up there, they can be bloody dangerous to get down if you aren't Samson. And leaving the rubber in full sun is not the best storage solution.

    If you don't have one already, get the Workhop etc manual CD from Dave's Shop - there are also a couple of diagnostic tools that can help. I don't know which ones, cos I have a TD5 and OBDII port in my car.

    For tyre size info, see Tire Size Comparison or Tire Size Calculator – Tire dimensions/diameter/circumference/revolutions per mile . There are others.

    265 is about an inch diameter bigger than 245.
    MY16 D4 TDV6 - with a little Cambo magic for towing "The Brick"
    MY95 RRC LSE Vogue Softdash "Bessie" (turning circle comparable to QE II) with MY99 TD5 and 4HP24 transplants. Back home Nov 22 after a magic overhaul by Chivalry
    SADLY SOLD MY04 D2a TD5 auto Classic and MY10 D4 2.7 both with lots of goodies

  3. #3
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    Welcome mate

    The transfercase itself is not your biggest enemy, it's the VCU (Viscous Coupling Unit) inside it that will break almost instantly if you do so! They can take only a very small amount of difference before they lock up and can break if forced. Hmm this can be explained better

    The VCU is your center diff lock. It allows for steering of the vehicle and the small amount of difference in revolutions between the front and rear. Once the slippage exceeds this amount the device becomes very stiff and locks front and rear together. If you shock load them or overheat them they break and they are no longer produced for the P38. A good second hand one or refurbish is your only option. Driving with 1 wheel in a different size will make the front and rear axles spin ever so slightly out of whack and if this continues for too long with too much difference, like I said, it will break the VCU so try and avoid it at "all" cost.

    A rear wheel carrier is the go I reckon, I have had mine tucked behind the seat for a while, it does fit in the rear foot well but not very charming is it...

    Cheers,
    -P

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    I have seen spare wheels in the rear compartment on P38As that have had an LPG tank in the wheel well. I had such a tank but I had a Kaymar rear bar and wheel carrier.

    Roof Rack.jpg
    Ron B.
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    Previous: 1983, 1986 RRC; 1995, 1996 P38A; 1995 Disco1; 1984 V8 County 110; Series IIA



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    thanks re wheels n damage

    Guys thanks for the comments and with this guidance i will not proceed with the odd sized spare. ill instead stow the right sized wheel in the back interior space... will keep working on the optimal method but for now have the spare flat with a 1300 kg rope made to the anchor point in the wheel well floor - a threaded figure 8 knot onto a M10 looped bolt screwed into the factory anchor point - that rope then goes up through drilled hole in rear compartment floor, to the wheel and is secured there onto a yacht cleat bolted to a block o wood - its held taught and would take a fairly unimaginable impact / roll for to come loose, tho pretty sure the pits wouldnt accept it. Ill explore the external arm per your pic w very nice white P38.

    thanks for the inputs guys - really appreciated.

    hope all are keeping well amid the C-19 madness.

  6. #6
    p38arover's Avatar
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    Have a look at this post: Spare Wheel bracket for load space on LPG vehicles

    The maker is in Melbourne.
    Ron B.
    VK2OTC

    2003 L322 Range Rover Vogue 4.4 V8 Auto
    2007 Yamaha XJR1300
    Previous: 1983, 1986 RRC; 1995, 1996 P38A; 1995 Disco1; 1984 V8 County 110; Series IIA



    RIP Bucko - Riding on Forever

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