hcpu p38 hybrid?

vilguy · Oct 31, 2014

Had a crazy thought last night whilst stuck in a traffic jam of what to do with my p38

The mrs is basically being daft and refusing to get in the thing and demanding I sell it. But...

I was thinking and this may have been done by someone else (but after several searches I cant find anything as I am probably using the wrong words)

110 HCPU shell on the P38 rolling chassis? All done up fancy.

Obviously there would be loads of hassle with outriggers. But its the bulkhead area that would be the most stressful I think.

Key thing would be keeping all the electrics standard P38, hopefully fooling it about the windows and doors if this is possible to do? Also keeping the HVAC system!

Any thoughts. Yes is means sacrificing a rather nice p38. Having had a looksee, i see the wheelbase is just less than a 109 so its not a million miles off.

Littelwill · Oct 31, 2014

A very interesting idea...

vilguy · Oct 31, 2014

someone must have done it before though surely? or realised it was too frickin hard (im still concerned about the bulkhead area)

also as it would mean replacing so much, would I be allowed to keep the existing reg?

I am thinking that as I have most of the panels and tub going spare, I could break the p38 shell and probably fund most of the conversion.

vilguy · Oct 31, 2014

Thinking this could end up something half decently quick off (my p38's a 4.6) comfy with the air suspension, probably very good off road (again because of the afformentioned) and practical (self levelling)

Ill have a measure up later and see whats what

I think its a real shame for me to even consider cutting it up, but as the mrs wont get in the thing and is refusing to let the kids in it too, that it would be better than having a range rover sat on the drive that will never ever move!

As its out of MOT theres no point in putting it through one (as itll need pads and discs, manifold etc sorting).

fergusonforestry · Oct 31, 2014

there's a guy around these parts that has a range rover pickup with the hcpu back on it, unfortunately only ever seen it driving past never been able to get a picture of it

Saint.V8 · Oct 31, 2014

vilguy said:
Thinking this could end up something half decently quick off (my p38's a 4.6) comfy with the air suspension, probably very good off road (again because of the afformentioned) and practical (self levelling)

Ill have a measure up later and see whats what

I think its a real shame for me to even consider cutting it up, but as the mrs wont get in the thing and is refusing to let the kids in it too, that it would be better than having a range rover sat on the drive that will never ever move!

As its out of MOT theres no point in putting it through one (as itll need pads and discs, manifold etc sorting).

Why won't she get in it???

If you put the hcpu body on it....surely it is still a Range Rover with just a less comfy body!!

tomcat59alan · Oct 31, 2014

Saint.V8 said:
Why won't she get in it???

If you put the hcpu body on it....surely it is still a Range Rover with just a less comfy body!!

Think she stuffed it into a wall Ant, it was the walls fault of course.

vilguy · Oct 31, 2014

Saint.V8 said:
Why won't she get in it???

as what alan just mentioned. She will get in a different P38... just not THAT one :doh: apparently the brakes mysteriously stopped working... then magically fixed themselves after hitting the wall

of course doing 40 odd mph on road tyres on 19" alloys, on a quite steep really bumpy slippery gravel track had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Saint.V8 said:
If you put the hcpu body on it....surely it is still a Range Rover with just a less comfy body!!

yeah so i get to have the range rover reliability with all the comfort of a defender...

The best of both worlds from my understanding?!

It would be alot lighter than a normal p38, be reasonably quiet (I find the 4.6 a nice and quiet and smooth engine), with the benefit of air suspension - height adjustment etc

Aside from nothing else its a nice little project isnt it. And I think I would find doing it this way easier than putting the 4.6 engine, gearbox, air suspension with all the electrics etc on a 110 chassis.

tomcat59alan · Oct 31, 2014

vilguy said:
as what alan just mentioned. She will get in a different P38... just not THAT one :doh: apparently the brakes mysteriously stopped working... then magically fixed themselves after hitting the wall

of course doing 40 odd mph on road tyres on 19" alloys, on a quite steep really bumpy slippery gravel track had absolutely nothing to do with it.

yeah so i get to have the range rover reliability with all the comfort of a defender...

The best of both worlds from my understanding?!

It would be alot lighter than a normal p38, be reasonably quiet (I find the 4.6 a nice and quiet and smooth engine), with the benefit of air suspension - height adjustment etc Aside from nothing else its a nice little project isnt it. And I think I would find doing it this way easier than putting the 4.6 engine, gearbox, air suspension with all the electrics etc on a 110 chassis.

Ha, better luck next time mate, fingers crossed that VOSA don't find the fault.

vilguy · Oct 31, 2014

tomcat59alan said:
Ha, better luck next time mate, fingers crossed that VOSA don't find the fault.

if they do find her .. i mean it... they can have it

tomcat59alan · Oct 31, 2014

vilguy said:
if they do find her .. i mean it... they can have it

:hysterically_laughi

Saint.V8 · Oct 31, 2014

vilguy said:
as what alan just mentioned. She will get in a different P38... just not THAT one :doh: apparently the brakes mysteriously stopped working... then magically fixed themselves after hitting the wall

of course doing 40 odd mph on road tyres on 19" alloys, on a quite steep really bumpy slippery gravel track had absolutely nothing to do with it.

yeah so i get to have the range rover reliability with all the comfort of a defender...

The best of both worlds from my understanding?!

It would be alot lighter than a normal p38, be reasonably quiet (I find the 4.6 a nice and quiet and smooth engine), with the benefit of air suspension - height adjustment etc Aside from nothing else its a nice little project isnt it. And I think I would find doing it this way easier than putting the 4.6 engine, gearbox, air suspension with all the electrics etc on a 110 chassis.

Ahhhh, I see said the blind man to a fish!

Datatek · Oct 31, 2014

If you want to keep the P38 electrics, there is a lot of wiring to pull out and then reinstate. Not easy.

vilguy · Nov 3, 2014

well i was in it yesterday and i just dont know if I can do it.

Hack it to bits I mean. I got in, closed the door and.... silence. Aaaahhh it was soooo good!

Datatek · Nov 3, 2014

vilguy said:
well i was in it yesterday and i just dont know if I can do it.

Hack it to bits I mean. I got in, closed the door and.... silence. Aaaahhh it was soooo good!

Leave the P38 as it is and replace the missus, plenty of secondhand ones available

blue beasty · Nov 3, 2014

Datatek said:
Leave the P38 as it is and replace the missus, plenty of secondhand ones available

Do check the chassis carefully though and give it an extended test drive before committing

Datatek · Nov 3, 2014

blue beasty said:
Do check the chassis carefully though and give it an extended test drive before committing

:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi

vilguy · Nov 3, 2014

blue beasty said:
Do check the chassis carefully though and give it an extended test drive before committing

urgh

what if you find horrible stuff thats been left in there by a previous owner?

i dont want an abused one. They are so tempermental and just not worth the hassle!

fergusonforestry · Nov 3, 2014

like slipping yer hand down the back o a sofa!

tomcat59alan · Nov 3, 2014

The trouble is they all take seriously what's poked at them in fun.

hcpu p38 hybrid?

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