New project Pre Production P38 4.0 SE

Hi All,
Another project is arriving.
Found 1994 Pre Production P38 4.0 SE.
M 246 CVC
Bought it today and will be delivered Tuesday.
Its all there but been resprayed very dark blue/black with small metallic flake, should be dark green - Epsom Green?
Owner believes its been converted to manual and factory record did say it was Auto from new.
Bad news is it has not been on the road for 3 years, battery was flat and ECU not talking to the BECM.
I will go thru all the key code reset procedures with key in the lock etc.
No service history - If anyone has any records of this P38 please contact me, I would ideally like the service book - long shot I know, any previous owners can contact me.
Anyone in Northumberland have Nanocom I can borrow would be great.
I have the suspension pumped up manually - what a PITA that was!
More updates when she arrives.
Onward

Oh wow well done, what a find! That’s the sort of thing we all dream of stumbling across. Does it turn over at all or run? Good luck with your project, it looks excellent. Sorry I don’t have any history on it, but if I see anything I’ll certainly make sure to send you it

I’m not really a fan of the P38 but it’s great to see a pre-production one being saved. Let us know how you get on with it.

Thanks Rhys, been looking at the P38 for a while, hope it does not become a money pit.
Knappster I was never a fan but its a Land Rover its got a good engine - heard it running many years ago. Clutch replaced recently and some gearbox repairs done.
I think it needs to be saved and I will be doing updates

Onward

Well the P38 has had a good wash and now needs a polish, 1 rear body rub strip put back on. Given the underside a good hose down and cleaned out nooks and cranny's. Surprised to find some shiny black paint on sections of the chassis.
Boot floor has has water in it at some point, its rusty but not rotten. I found a production label dated 03/1994 with M2 special build printed on it - nice find.
There is some rusted holes on front of sills but not huge holes, some rust around rear arches and fairly sure on the rear cross member under the bumper.
I have synced the key to the car and its locking, everything works except cranking, syncmate is in the post and be here Wednesday.
Need a centre section for the exhaust - so I am thinking replace the down pipes, the cats, the lambda's and the centre section. The rear back box is stainless and apparently has a nice rumble!!
I will finish cleaning the interior and leave it until sycmate arrives.






Found a pic of 246's sibling 245


Onward

Well....... Tonight I got 246 running and she sounds great.
Syncmate from Black Box did the job.
suspension works, all lights work and goes thru all gears.
Brakes are trash, I dont think ABS is working correctly, firm pedal but brakes rubbish.

Onward