P38 Diesel conversion...

Just out of complete curiosity, are there any good diesel conversions for the P38? From what i've been told the old BMW sourced 2.5 is a bit wheezy....

Just wondering if anyone found a diesel engine man enough for the P38 without being stupid? I read something somewhere about someone going for a Dodge ram 5.9L diesel engine, which to me is complete over kill.

Dennis use the same engine in their double decker busses..!

There is a company doing a TDV6 conversion if your pockets are deep enough.

Izuzu 2.7

fix it said:

Izuzu 2.7

Click to expand...

RRC yeah but no way in a P38

Land Rover conversions - M&D Engineering International 2.8 TGV diesel

TDV6.. don't know anything about it, would imagine it's a very expensive conversion.... I don't think there's anything out there which is ideally suited to the RR, unless you go to newer diesels, where the conversion would cost more than the cars worth in parts alone...

Maybe something like a Merc sprinter engine, those van's are quick and haul loads well...?

rufusw5 said:

TDV6.. don't know anything about it, would imagine it's a very expensive conversion.... I don't think there's anything out there which is ideally suited to the RR, unless you go to newer diesels, where the conversion would cost more than the cars worth in parts alone...

Maybe something like a Merc sprinter engine, those van's are quick and haul loads well...?

Click to expand...

Good luck with the electrics.

wammers said:

Good luck with the electrics.

Click to expand...

I'm not really planning to do a conversion, was just wondering if anyone had found anything good diesel wise for the RR, to be honest it doesn't look like it....!

Anything remotely modern is pretty much an electrical nightmare to transplant, and the old stuff is all too thirsty or doesn't really gain much over the 2.5 BMW engine

rufusw5 said:

I'm not really planning to do a conversion, was just wondering if anyone had found anything good diesel wise for the RR, to be honest it doesn't look like it....!

Anything remotely modern is pretty much an electrical nightmare to transplant, and the old stuff is all too thirsty or doesn't really gain much over the 2.5 BMW engine

Click to expand...

The 2.5 BMW is a very good engine, with a chipped ECM quick enough for anybody.

JohnP38 said:

Land Rover conversions - M&D Engineering International 2.8 TGV diesel

Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of the 200tdi engines and these are supposed to be a big improvement over them but I really don't think they would suit the P38.

And for the money you could afford a full Jeremy Fearns upgrade kit for the BMW 2.5 and still have enough left over to have a spare engine at home in case you have a problem.

For the price of the Motor & Diesel conversion you could probably afford to blueprint an M51 and Jeremy Fearn it. You would have a super P38 then.

Here's a link to the TDV6 conversion - HERE

AdamElphick said:

Here's a link to the TDV6 conversion - HERE

Click to expand...

Wow, good on Jay and Ginny, and many thanks for the link. Definate a consideration to keep a P38 on the road.

There's a fellow in the States that converted a 4.6 HSE into a 6.2L diesel, using the engine from a Hummer H1. Apparently it is running really great. There's quite a few videos of it on Facebook.

rufusw5 said:

TDV6.. don't know anything about it, would imagine it's a very expensive conversion.... I don't think there's anything out there which is ideally suited to the RR, unless you go to newer diesels, where the conversion would cost more than the cars worth in parts alone...

Maybe something like a Merc sprinter engine, those van's are quick and haul loads well...?

Click to expand...

after working for M/Benz for 12+ years, you would be surprised how many sprinter engines are rebuilt! plus, if you want to buy a new lump, they do come with everything on them but you will be looking at the best part of £5000. only because you dont have an exchange unit to return.

might as well spend £5000 on a newer RR.

Transit engine (as used in the Defender) would be an easy choice, can be simply re-mapped to some pretty spectacular outputs. Lots of second hand ones available.

rufusw5 said:

Just out of complete curiosity, are there any good diesel conversions for the P38? From what i've been told the old BMW sourced 2.5 is a bit wheezy....

Just wondering if anyone found a diesel engine man enough for the P38 without being stupid? I read something somewhere about someone going for a Dodge ram 5.9L diesel engine, which to me is complete over kill.

Dennis use the same engine in their double decker busses..!

Click to expand...

Yes... but the original Cummins 5.9L straight 6 is only 160hp... not much more than the BMW 2.5! (although more torque) - just goes to show you how sh*te american engines are...

I had an F350 with a 7.3L V8 diesel... well, if you're gonna do it, do it properly