Modifying P38

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J

jerry3

Member
Posts
47
Location
Dorset
I have some ideas which hopefully won't upset the purists but my thoughts are;
I have a 4.6 with 20" Sport alloys , side steps, tinted rear glass, sport grille, Janspeed exhausts.
I will probably never go off road so 4wd is wasted and obviously slowing the car down and affecting economy.
So was thinking of making it rear wheel drive only so need to know what to remove and what to modify.
Also thinking about lowering it as much as possible , at the moment it's on coils and I hate it so maybe an airbag system but not the land rover one unless it can be modified to allow for a comfy ride.
Any opinions or advice wanted.
Cheers
 
??? A 4.6l engine in a two tonne brick and the only thing that will help the mpg is removing the front prop. It's been bodged onto springs instead of proven airbags and the ride quality is crap, I'm sure this has nothing to do with it being on 20" rims.
You range rover boys make us simple minded tratter boys laugh.:D
 
If the ride quality was dependant upon the size of the rims in my case 20 why are they fitted to the new versions and in some cases 22 so I can't see that they would be a problem with a different suspension set up. Thats why I need a better system .
 
Marmaduke said:
??? A 4.6l engine in a two tonne brick and the only thing that will help the mpg is removing the front prop. It's been bodged onto springs instead of proven airbags and the ride quality is crap, I'm sure this has nothing to do with it being on 20" rims.
You range rover boys make us simple minded tratter boys laugh.:D
Click to expand...

Yeah I have you right their it just made me laugh
 
jerry3 said:
If the ride quality was dependant upon the size of the rims in my case 20 why are they fitted to the new versions and in some cases 22 so I can't see that they would be a problem with a different suspension set up. Thats why I need a better system .
Click to expand...
There is a world of difference between a suspension system designed to run with elastic bands for tyres, and one that is designed to run with flexible sidewalls. Wrong rims + wrong suspension = poor ride. Even when running on proper springs and rims, its a very different ride from most cars.
Even tyres can make a difference to fuel economy. Why not convert it to front wheel drive rather than rear, you will save an extra couple of lbs,? Don't waste money on new airbags, just grind a coil or two off the existing springs, as it seems comfy=low for you. On the low setting, on factory airbags, the P38 is a comfy motorway muncher, and not too crashy over the city potholes, just as it was designed to be with regular tyres.

Needless to say, such conversions would have to be notified to your insurers along with all the other changes made, rims, springs, exhaust, tints, etc. The loading on premium may well outweigh any fuel savings, given that 4wd is seen as a safety feature by many.

Hopes that the OP sees at least one ridiculous idea here!
 
Seffy said:
There is a world of difference between a suspension system designed to run with elastic bands for tyres, and one that is designed to run with flexible sidewalls. Wrong rims + wrong suspension = poor ride. Even when running on proper springs and rims, its a very different ride from most cars.
Even tyres can make a difference to fuel economy. Why not convert it to front wheel drive rather than rear, you will save an extra couple of lbs,? Don't waste money on new airbags, just grind a coil or two off the existing springs, as it seems comfy=low for you. On the low setting, on factory airbags, the P38 is a comfy motorway muncher, and not too crashy over the city potholes, just as it was designed to be with regular tyres.

Needless to say, such conversions would have to be notified to your insurers along with all the other changes made, rims, springs, exhaust, tints, etc. The loading on premium may well outweigh any fuel savings, given that 4wd is seen as a safety feature by many.

Hopes that the OP sees at least one ridiculous idea here!
Click to expand...

backing this, I had a BMW 530D M sport with 20" rims and low profile tyres, normal suspension associated with it, my friend has a 530D normal, with 17" and much bigger tyes and the comfort difference is phenomenal, if you're thinking of comfort go for smaller rims bigger tyres, they are the first point of impact for potholes, speedbumps etc, it's then through the axle, suspension etc.

And if you're after MPG, a 4.6 is the wrong way to go, shoulda been a 2.5 diesel!
 
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