P38A Coil Spring Conversion

Lotusfundi · Dec 11, 2019

Hello - I have joined Landyzone to educate myself about the Range Rover P38A. At present I do not own a LR but am researching the best model to use for an overland trip from London to Cape Town. It is not my intention to do any serious off-roading other than the tracks in the game parks on my way south. At 71 I'm looking for something comfortable to "cruise" the main roads - tarmac or gravel. A defender is bit too industrial for me. I lived in Africa for 40 years so know what to expect. So far I'm informed that air suspension is a no-no once we leave civilisation. Something easy and simple to self maintain is the answer in the event of any problems / breakdowns. Can anyone offer advice on P38A coil spring conversions and how they perform once installed. Thank you. Lotusfundi.

Datatek · Dec 11, 2019

Lotusfundi said:
Hello - I have joined Landyzone to educate myself about the Range Rover P38A. At present I do not own a LR but am researching the best model to use for an overland trip from London to Cape Town. It is not my intention to do any serious off-roading other than the tracks in the game parks on my way south. At 71 I'm looking for something comfortable to "cruise" the main roads - tarmac or gravel. A defender is bit too industrial for me. I lived in Africa for 40 years so know what to expect. So far I'm informed that air suspension is a no-no once we leave civilisation. Something easy and simple to self maintain is the answer in the event of any problems / breakdowns. Can anyone offer advice on P38A coil spring conversions and how they perform once installed. Thank you. Lotusfundi.

A fully overhauled air suspension is unlikely to give you problems, there are plenty of other things to go wrong electronically in a P38. Coils ruin the P38.
As they say in Australia, if you want to go into the bush, take a Land Rover, if you want to come back, take a Toyota.

Henry_b · Dec 11, 2019

I'd avoid the P38 altogether and buy a Landcruiser.

There is a reason it killed off LR in africa.

Shippers · Dec 11, 2019

The suspension is not your problem it's the electrics on a P38 that will scupper your trip...

kermit_rr · Dec 11, 2019

Agree with the above. I'm not sure why air suspension would be a no-no

Disco1BFG · Dec 11, 2019

As above - Air suspension is the least of your problems - and I wouldn't worry about it - more reliable than more or less anything else on a P38.

Also, the P38 was designed around the EAS, so fitting coils is going to spoil it....

Shippers · Dec 11, 2019

Disco1BFG said:
Also, the P38 was designed around the EAS, so fitting coils is going to spoil it....

Agree but coils only break they don't rely on compressors,valves and pipework not to mention electrics to operate them so could scupper a long overland trip...

ovalandrover · Dec 11, 2019

I use a p 38 on air for long trips through Russia and other Asia countries and have had problems but if you carry a few spares then they can be fixed .I have done over 120000 mile in mine and its still going. The car has done about 240000 miles altogether and i would also be interested in driving north to south if you would like to pm me and maybe travel together.
In 1973 I drove from UK to cape town in a 109 series 2A and lived in Rhodesia for 2 yrs

Grrrrrr · Dec 12, 2019

Lotusfundi said:
Hello - I have joined Landyzone to educate myself about the Range Rover P38A. At present I do not own a LR but am researching the best model to use for an overland trip from London to Cape Town. It is not my intention to do any serious off-roading other than the tracks in the game parks on my way south. At 71 I'm looking for something comfortable to "cruise" the main roads - tarmac or gravel. A defender is bit too industrial for me. I lived in Africa for 40 years so know what to expect. So far I'm informed that air suspension is a no-no once we leave civilisation. Something easy and simple to self maintain is the answer in the event of any problems / breakdowns. Can anyone offer advice on P38A coil spring conversions and how they perform once installed. Thank you. Lotusfundi.

Talk to ovalandrover. He's been all over in his.

Lotusfundi · Dec 12, 2019

ovalandrover said:
I use a p 38 on air for long trips through Russia and other Asia countries and have had problems but if you carry a few spares then they can be fixed .I have done over 120000 mile in mine and its still going. The car has done about 240000 miles altogether and i would also be interested in driving north to south if you would like to pm me and maybe travel together.
In 1973 I drove from UK to cape town in a 109 series 2A and lived in Rhodesia for 2 yrs

Hi Ovalandrover - Thanks for your reply. Please contact me on la

Lotusfundi · Dec 12, 2019

Thank you for your responses. Take a look at the following - in 2010 a couple did exactly what I plan to do in the same vehicle. They only have praise for it. A completely trouble free run using air suspension. http://www.lilongwedown.com/LilongweDown/Trip_Log/Entries/2010/7/10_The_Range_Rover__a_eulogy.html

RangeRoller dt · Dec 12, 2019

Hello.
I love my coils

That’s right, I’m not a favourite round here

They’ve never broke or played up once. I had to get an Indy to realign the headlight beams but other than that was simple enough as an amateur. No bump stops for
Moi!

They are very comfy compared to a defender.
If you sell your EAS bits will probably pay for themselves. They are good off-road so long as you don’t have too big a tyre at increased articulation. Mods to account for this won’t be an issue outside EU

You’ll want a diesel manual transmission imo - or lots and lots of Jerry cans that bolt on and a butler to carry them for you.

Shippers · Dec 13, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
Hello.
I love my coils

That’s right, I’m not a favourite round here

They’ve never broke or played up once. I had to get an Indy to realign the headlight beams but other than that was simple enough as an amateur. No bump stops for
Moi! They are very comfy compared to a defender.
If you sell your EAS bits will probably pay for themselves. They are good off-road so long as you don’t have too big a tyre at increased articulation. Mods to account for this won’t be an issue outside EU

You’ll want a diesel manual transmission imo - or lots and lots of Jerry cans that bolt on and a butler to carry them for you.

Mines on coils but not driven it on the road yet... got to sort all the ELECTRICAL problems first and doing it in a fully equipped workshop not at the side of the road in the middle of somewhere I've never been before...

Henry_b · Dec 13, 2019

If you want a car on Coils that is comfy and relatively reliable when maintained..

Get a Discovery.

The P38's party piece is the EAS, without it the thing is no better..

IMO
having being the owner of both i am qualified to tell ya'll..

Shippers · Dec 13, 2019

Henry_b said:
If you want a car on Coils that is comfy and relatively reliable when maintained..

Get a Discovery.

The P38's party piece is the EAS, without it the thing is no better..

IMO
having being the owner of both i am qualified to tell ya'll..

The OP is 71 and doesn't own a vehicle to do the trip he's planning...but is asking if a P38s air suspension is up to it!...whats his budget,mechanical skills and where's he going to source the vehicle and how much preparation prior to trip to me is more important than air over coils...

Western Slope Rover · Dec 13, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
Hello.
I love my coils
That’s right, I’m not a favourite round here

They’ve never broke or played up once. I had to get an Indy to realign the headlight beams but other than that was simple enough as an amateur. No bump stops for
Moi! They are very comfy compared to a defender.
If you sell your EAS bits will probably pay for themselves. They are good off-road so long as you don’t have too big a tyre at increased articulation. Mods to account for this won’t be an issue outside EU

You’ll want a diesel manual transmission imo - or lots and lots of Jerry cans that bolt on and a butler to carry them for you.

+1

kurtjohnson10 · Dec 13, 2019

Shippers said:
The OP is 71 and doesn't own a vehicle to do the trip he's planning...but is asking if a P38s air suspension is up to it!...whats his budget,mechanical skills and where's he going to source the vehicle and how much preparation prior to trip to me is more important than air over coils...

I am 129 years old and i still run EAS

. As the op is a 71 yr old spring chicken i would also stick with the EAS if i was them.

Shippers · Dec 13, 2019

kurtjohnson10 said:
I am 129 years old and i still run EAS . As the op is a 71 yr old spring chicken i would also stick with the EAS if i was them.

Hmm that makes a lot of sense...very helpful to the OP...

kurtjohnson10 · Dec 13, 2019

Shippers said:
Hmm that makes a lot of sense...very helpful to the OP...

Glad i could help- that's what this forums all about

Grrrrrr · Dec 13, 2019

Not sure the manual diesel is more reliable. Until I worked out the clutch release arm bushes were buggered I kept burning through clutches.

I think the main issue will be age and maintenance. After buying it takes about a year to find all the niggles and fix them. None are going to be pristine at the ages they are.

P38A Coil Spring Conversion

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