Thanks for that detailed reply Ragtag.

Its looking like with all the modifications required it would take a long time to recover the cost of the installation. But the boot space has to remain free for carrying my stuff around.

The mechanical side doesn't worry me so much, I've owned my P38 several years now so can handle most of the grief, but bodywork is a different issue.

My idea is to use it for 5 years to hopefull retirement and then 'chuck it away' if its still standing.

I'm self employed so using a RRC 100% just for work means I use all running costs and repairs to reduce my profit so single figure mpg and hefty repair bills are never as bad as they seem. In the old days I used to buy on finance and off set a small percentage against interest and depreciation. To see how some of those motors have depreciated over a couple of years makes running a classic for a few years ecconomical!!

Diesel RRCs seem to be rare and to buy a diesel P38 and have 2 in the family would be overkill.

I'm going to take a look at a couple of petrol classics to see what sort of state they're in, crunch the numbers and go from there.

Thanks for all input so far.

U can have mine for 2.2k, I just finsihed sorting everything on it!

fett said:

U can have mine for 2.2k, I just finsihed sorting everything on it!

Click to expand...

I'll give you 2K cash as long as you throw in a 5 year unlimited mileage back to base for expert fixing bumper to bumper warranty, oh and 1 of those nice smelly things that work when you turn your blower on, nothing to poofy mind, a nice smell of roses or lilac or something on those lines, I can't say fairer than that

I will give you a 5 year warranty on the autobox but thats it, the blower only works on three btw lol

fett said:

I will give you a 5 year warranty on the autobox but thats it, the blower only works on three btw lol

Click to expand...

Thats fine lots more luvly roses and lilacs to send me all dreamy!!

Bring down the cash and shes yours

fett said:

Bring down the cash and shes yours

Click to expand...

Great do ya take £150 notes they've got a nice piccy of Ronnie Biggs on the back!!

Nah £50's only, or Paypal is fine

fett said:

Nah £50's only, or Paypal is fine

Click to expand...

No ive only got me 150's and my Pal says hes deffo not payin

You cant fit sill tanks on an Air-Suspension (post 95?ish?), so you'll be looking at earlier coil-sprung & probably sill rotten examples.

Best to look for something already converted, if you follow through. Need not be expensive. Paid £400 for one 3.9, £600 for the other, both already on gas.

The £400 one had sill tanks, and I used to squeeze 70ish Litres in them, which suggests they were 45L tanks, but I'm not certain.

They hand down a 'bit' beneath the sills. As mentioned, the dont hang beneath the lowest point of the chassis / transmission, but so far from the centre line, they are more inclined to get clonked, but provided the mounts are 'good' they are tough enough.

Regular petrol tank is as likely to get clonked or dragged, tucked in the tail-hang, and that's 2mm steel or something, rather than the armour plate of the gas cannister!

Beware the 'hidden' costs, when you crunch the numbers. You start the engine on propper petrol, and should run it on FPF till warm to get the vaporiser up to temp. If you do a lot of short hop driving, you wont be using gas, so not seeing a saving.

And you wont be able to save, if you cant get gas and have to fil up on FPF, becouse you are away from your local LPG station when you run dry.... and LPG isn't on every for-coart, and there are a number of LPG black-spots.

A Sat-Nav with the LPG data-base loaded as POI's is a VERY useful thing to have in the car!

Thanks for that info Teflon I think I've pretty much accepted if I don't get one already converted I'm not going down the LPG route and because of the lack of decent examples around won't limit my search to LPG only.

I'm very new to the world of classics so could someone enlighten me on the different models. I'm assuming the 3.5 and 3.9 are the older versions, most pre air suspension and less electrickery whilst the 4.2 is slightly newer with air suspension?

Is the 4.2 more refined/better engine. As all classics are now getting on is it best just to get one with the best bodywork you can find regardless of model or are the newer 4.2's always going to be a better buy? Cheers

Ok as far as I know it was 3.5 carbs till about 85 ,3.5 EFI 85-mid 89 and 3.9 efi from mid 89 till 1995.

The 4.2 was in the LSE (long wheel base model) not sure when that was launched but judging by the fact it had hotwire EFI the same as the 3.9 I would have thought it would have been around 1989.

There are many differnt opinions, and according to most people differnt facts too on the best engines. Some like the 3.5 as the blocks seem to have the least problems but they are down on power compared to the later 3.9 and 4.2's.
Many will argue the latter two are equally reliable and others will say they arnt.

You will probably pay less for a 3.9 and they are good on power for a landrover anyway.

The LSE's and the very late 3.9 classics had air springs, I would steer clear as bills are big enough without them going wrong too, but my mechanic says you can get air springs with a lifetime warranty form the US.

Hope all that helps!