Ls1 P38 Engine Conversion

**81stubee** · 22nd August 2008, 08:11 AM

"However didn't you get the P38 as the Disco was going to cost too much to fix?"

Yeah, whats your point!

Disco was going to cost a lot, and still wouldn't do the things we wanted. We've comfortably taken 5 Adults to the snow with gear 3 times, went camping and much easier to fit stuff in. Besides I always wanted a P38. I feel the car suits us better than the disco did. Rightio back to the task.

Marks's make the adaptors to mate chev to ZF ~$600. Engine mounts can't be hugely different from the ones they make for the classic (frame width is the same) only concerned about the drop, as the P38's Rails seem to be higher.

Ron, not planning on using the GEMS ecu at all as I this want the benefits of the excelent delco system. Immobilisation can be bypassed. Thats the benefit of the early model, there's no CAN bus to worry about. Delco ECU is easily programmed from a PC with downloadable engine maps for different purposes. There are so many different configurations of this motor, from F Trucks to Corvettes, same motor just different ancilliaries.

Simon, Bloody LR decided to put the diffs on the left

, which means a super strong LT230 won't fit without huge mods.

This is the IDea So far:
(AUG) 1. Initial research (this is now)
(OCT) 2. Start contacting various companies about costs etc.

(NOV) 3. Cooling off period (is it worth it - sleep on it)
(DEC) 4. If motor isn't just drop in I will try to find a bent P38 chassis and use that for fabrication of mounts ancillaries etc.
5. Purchase Gearbox, source motor, replace morse chain and viscous.
(JAN) 6. Mount all physical components in test chassis.
7. Start interface Looms (where to mount ECU etc)
8. Motor gearbox etc into car
9. Finish Wiring (need faultmate, eflive software)
10. Exhaust
Whose your daddy, A P38 with an LS1. Put foot down

and....
11. Repair blown diff
12. Repair blown tranfer box
13. Repair broken axle

Thats it Job done

**Camo** · 22nd August 2008, 08:32 AM

Hmm I think you have been in Kiwiland too long

I reckon doing up the 4.6 would be the easiest.. no mod plates!

my 2 cents

But hey.. would love to see a Gen3 in a P38. I'm sure there are a few guys out there dreaming of doing that conversion!

Camo

**81stubee** · 22nd August 2008, 09:08 AM

Not in Kiwi land yet (just a holiday). Hey, I sold a perfect disco to get a P38, doesn't that show my level of sanity

Its only going to happen if everything goes on fairly easy and for minimal cost

. Writing out that list made me start to think twice

but think of the POWER

. Will know for sure once I start ringing around. And will only happen if the 4.6 is completely cactus. Either way I will right it up in here.

If somebody can tell me what i'm missing, please do as I can't see it being that hard. That red defender reminded post reminded me about the power steering pressure.

Can you change the ratios on a BW Transfer Case? Currently sits at 2400rpm @ 100KmH on the highway.

Stu

**Camo** · 22nd August 2008, 09:22 AM

Not in Kiwi land yet (just a holiday). Hey, I sold a perfect disco to get a P38, doesn't that show my level of sanity

At 100kph I reckon 1900 rpm would be perfect for the Gen3 in a P38.. my SS sits on 1400 at 100kph. at 1900 you would have heaps more pull to overtake.

Just fit 35's.. ratio prob solved

Camo

**Bigbjorn** · 22nd August 2008, 10:16 AM

The Lexus is a wide, bulky engine. DOHC heads make it so. Could be difficult o fit in the constraints of an RR.

**V8Landy** · 22nd August 2008, 10:24 AM

A few have been put in surfs.I think they would have less room wouldn't they?

**rovercare** · 22nd August 2008, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by V8Landy

A few have been put in surfs.I think they would have less room wouldn't they?

They are massixe in comparison to a gen 3, much more work to do a neat conversion

The conversion itself is a piece of cake, the ONLY concern is the interface between the BCM and the ECU

I was thinking about it for a bit

**Hoges** · 22nd August 2008, 05:04 PM

Been lurking around the forums looking for the "LS1" prompt...! With a Bosch 4.6 P38 and a well cared for 2000 Calais 5.7 LS1, I have thought long and hard about possibilities....

The Gen3 LS1 develops its max torque in excess of 4000 rpm...

The overall gearing of the P38 in top gear with 16" tyres is approx equivalent to 3rd gear in the Commodore. So in the P38 at 100 kph in top and 2400 rpm on the tach the Gen3 response ought to be reasonable, but there's also another 500+ kg to haul not including passengers and off road gear!

I've also wondered about the feasibility of a 1999-2000 GMH 5L V8. Apart from the weight issues (heavy!) its torque characteristics, reliability and relatively straightforward LPG conversion might be better suited to the P38...

Thoughts?

**rovercare** · 22nd August 2008, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Hoges

Been lurking around the forums looking for the "LS1" prompt...! With a Bosch 4.6 P38 and a well cared for 2000 Calais 5.7 LS1, I have thought long and hard about possibilities....

The Gen3 LS1 develops its max torque in excess of 4000 rpm...

The overall gearing of the P38 in top gear with 16" tyres is approx equivalent to 3rd gear in the Commodore. So in the P38 at 100 kph in top and 2400 rpm on the tach the Gen3 response ought to be reasonable, but there's also another 500+ kg to haul not including passengers and off road gear!

I've also wondered about the feasibility of a 1999-2000 GMH 5L V8. Apart from the weight issues (heavy!) its torque characteristics, reliability and relatively straightforward LPG conversion might be better suited to the P38...

Thoughts?

Thoughts? well the motor ain;t heavy and will pull the P38 along better than ANY rover stroker..................with a baby cam and valve springs of course

**Camo** · 12th February 2009, 01:56 PM

Anymore thoughts on a Gen3 conversion for the P38?

Thread: Ls1 P38 Engine Conversion

Thread Tools

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions