Holden Inj V8, into P38

**Vern** · 24th January 2007, 06:34 PM

Ok, now i've posted something about this before, but here i go again.
Mate of mine has a P38 HSE, anyway the 4.6 has done a liner and he has an injected 5litre that he is very keen on putting in. Now the mechanical side of getting it in is pretty straight forward, but it the engine management thats a concern.
Does anybody know of how this can be done, can a different management systenm be used and somehow adapted to the P38 one.
He really doesn't want to put the 4.6 back in.

**BigJon** · 24th January 2007, 06:39 PM

The engine management on the Holden engine is pretty simple. If you had the two wiring diagrams I can't see that it would be too difficult. You might have to revert to a non electronic auto transmission though.

**PhilipA** · 24th January 2007, 07:34 PM

But aren't there extensive interfaces between the Body ECM and engine/transmission ECM?
Even the door locks are run by the BECM, for example the suspension will not raise if the BECM senses one of the doors is ajar.
The suspension ECM depends on speed signals for height etc etc.
There may be workarounds, but its going to be complex. the doorlocks ar e not conventional plunger types but are a rotary mechanism, I am told completely different to any aftermarket.
So your friend should be fully aware of the pitfalls. I suggest he talks to a specialist such as Graeme Cooper.
You could perhaps run a GM engine with the GEMS and a Unichip. Perhaps that is a possible approach.
Regards Philip A

**Pierre** · 24th January 2007, 07:48 PM

Why not get a set of top hat liners for your existing block? A rebuilt engine with new liners will be so much easier than engineering a Holden into the engine bay. And you'll get a reliable 4.6 out of it!

Pete

**Vern** · 24th January 2007, 07:50 PM

Yeah he understands its very complex, that is why i'm asking for help, or of any ideas as to whether this has been done before. He spoke to Graeme Cooper, and he said all they wanted to do was sell him a new engine. Probably spoke to the wrong person.
I rang Bruce Davis and spoke to an older guy ther and he kept telling me they didn't want to do the conversion, he didn't understand that i only wanted info.

**Vern** · 24th January 2007, 07:55 PM

Why not get a set of top hat liners for your existing block? A rebuilt engine with new liners will be so much easier than engineering a Holden into the engine bay. And you'll get a reliable 4.6 out of it!

Because that would be to easy

He wants more grunt i think, and has the motor sitting there

**loanrangie** · 24th January 2007, 09:03 PM

I wonder if it would be possible to make the rangie ecu work on the 5ltr ? Adapt all the sensors to the holden or somehow use the delco ecu as a piggyback to the rover ecu thus keeping both happy ? This may be pie in the sky but its the same principle as the unichip piggyback chips albeit more complex ?

**p38arover** · 24th January 2007, 09:43 PM

I was told today that Triumph Rover Spares in Adelaide do a 5 litre Rover V8 conversion using a new 4.6 block fitted with top hat liners.

Ron

lokka · 24th January 2007, 10:04 PM

Ok what are these top hat liners are they just simple old liners that are in the std rover/layland donks or are they sumfing new fangled that i havent herd of

Cheers

Chris