Hi all at the P38 club! Is there anyone out there with a 4.236 lump in their wagon? After some advice about where to get an airbox from to fit or some inexpensive grafts.

Is it just me or is the P38 a headache for most owners as there seems to be no shortage of posts about problems and few for the classic. Are most classic owners now seasoned mechanics, rarely see any for sale which don't have some sort of problem or minus an MOT. Do we just live with stuff not working and put it down to character? I think we are a nation of tinkers and bodgers.

cheers, JimmymacD

What do you have the perk in? how do you find it?

Oh and in answer to q2 , YES!

Is it just me or is the P38 a headache for most owners as there seems to be no shortage of posts about problems and few for the classic. Are most classic owners now seasoned mechanics, rarely see any for sale which don't have some sort of problem or minus an MOT.


the classics are just much less hassle than the P38. well that my personal experience, had 20 classics in 25 years, and had very little problem with them,had one p38 had more trouble in one week with it than 25 years of classics. i love working on my car but i do like to enjoy it and not be forever repairing it.

Mine had oil bath type cleaner think it was out of series L/R mounted just above the steering box if that any help, and if its any thing like mine was fett its noisy slow flat out at 60 but it would still do 60 up hill with 3 tons behind it !

Are you talking about a 4.236 in a P38? Maybe in the Ukraine or Cuba...

Hi, sorry I was having a rant about P38s, never owned one myself, I'm a classic/series man, just thought there might be more from classic owners on this site? Quite like the look of them just wouldn't want to worry about scratching it. The Classic still does what it says on the tin and my back has recovered from owning a sprinkling of series landies. I have had six RR in the past and always regret selling them (always left in better condition than received) my Wife would then say "how useful it was" and "felt like a Queen driving it" not before chewing my nuts about that hunk of old iron that we never use cluttering up the drive and how she wants new clothes for the Kids!

Perkins is in 75 two door. I have looked at Series/200/300 airbox but thought the airflow may be restricted? As far as running a 4.236 don't know yet, if I had the budget I would put a large jap or 300dti motor in. The 4.236 reminds me of the old London routemaster bus when it is running, warms me cockles. I often think about hooking it up to the House electrics as it would make a luvely generator. Would I rush out and buy a 4.236? NO! Twenty years ago they might have been the dogs watsits but they have been overshadowed by much better oilburners. I think mine has a 5 speed box and overdrive? Waiting on brakes and then I can hit the highway at 65mph rather than 60, unless it is out of a generator in which case I will have cheap electric for years to come!

Keep the advice coming, I think I will be needing more before this baby is done!
cheers, JimmymacD

Mine was a 75 two door and had the original 4 speed box no overdrive, is it long stick 5 speed ? didnt know you could get overdrive for that box, if it has got overdrive just mind how you go with it they can break teeth on layshaft then crack the casing if you give it too much boot low down.

i run a 86 classic efi fitted with a perky motor ,not sure witch one mind,but it pulls like a locomotive ,starts first time,+ its like greased lightning i only lose out climbing hills cos of lack of turbo apart from that im well chuffed with it,had it 7 and a half years and if it keeps going i can see me having it another 7 years....i also own a p38 d s e ,lovely motor i just wish it would keep running ,if it ran like the classic it would be unbeatable,im busy fitting a rear diff at the minute,the last time i had to change a diff was 1972+i only ever changed 2 in my life till now ive changed 3 in a month ffs in the p38.....wen its good its very good but wen its bad its a P I T A...dave

Yep, I think it is a 5spd long stick, unless someone has stuck a series 3 in as 5th could be a knuckle on dash reverse but I seem to remember down for reverse when I moved it into the barn. There is a mix of spares from later classic so I think that's where the gearbox has come from and the wiring was a nightmare due to the loom being 2 and 4 door. I had two of everything and nothing connected. Sorted now and quite proud of the achievement. Just bought kenlowe fan off ebay... fan works well but I think the thermostate is duff so I'm going to take it apart and see whats wrong..... fixed my boiler last week and now I am F$&king invincible!!! Bloody Perkins won't start today! I think there is still air in the system? Had new seals etc.. in lifter pump, done by friend who wants 15 quid for his troubles, bargain until I found that they are only 16 quid new doh!

I am hoping that the RR will fly when done, if 5spd then I will take O/D off or just remove knob. If like my series, it was like hens teeth to find the final lock nut unless you were taking from one vehicle to another. Can't test anything until my front calipers arrive... in the post... just posted... Wife's pregnant and she does the postage.... any month now they should arrive! Gives me a bit of time to do body work, just a colour change from fire engine red to Tuscan blue. Luckily chassis, panels, interior and running gear are good. I have refurbed a few headlinings before so no worries there, just want to get engine and ancillaries out the way, then get on with the stuff I like plus 747 soundproofing before the dreaded MOT.

Does anyone know if I can put later classic rear bumper on a 2 door and have they got one going very cheap or free? I can get shotblasted just don't want anything too holy. Some chap wanted 70 quid + pp for secondhand, thats the price new! I must have sucker stamped on my forehead.

Wasn't slagging the 4.236 just saying that they're a bit old now. Like P38's there are mixed feelings, love em or hate em. After all we are Landrover owners and suffer mocking on a daily basis (they're only jealous) from owners of Jap crap or Civilians like the Wife!

Cheers, JimmymacD

I will be interested to see how it goes , I nearly bought one with a perk in it going back a few months.

You must have I nice workshop or be resistant to the cold!

I am very fortunate to have a large barn which the previous owner worked as a car repairer from, unforunately he took the four post with him but left a spray booth. The only problem with having space is that it fills up quickly with projects and rubbish. Every six months I have a clearout. Want to get RR up and out for deep clean so I can clear up for prep and painting. I must admit I am the envy of my male friends though they always give me grief as I take so long to finish projects. I think marriage has something to do with that. Gone are the days were I can sit on a garage floor surrounded by oily bits, coffee and fags till 4 in the morning. I will post pics once project is in full swing.
Cheers, JimmymacD

lucky boy

Dont see why later bumper wont fit they both bolt on end of chassis just have to drill couple 6mm holes for end caps, wonder if bigdave perkins is the 4182 made by mazda badged as perkins, now they did go quite well.

WOTCHER KDS im not sure whitch one it is ,when i had the injectors done the chap sez mazda,,,however the chap at my indie looked at it he sez perky+he has an instruction book for it ,first chance i get ill check and let you know,,,,watch this space lol ,,,dave

just remembered the bloke at the indie sez it is 3litre if its any help,be mon at the earliest to catch up wiv him cos im shooting all day termorrer mate....dave

Anyone got an instruction manual for the 4.236? Wondered if I should look at turbo head in the future? Been offered a TDI with 5spd in 1980 2 door from local source but the Wife really would kill me, give it another year and it may be sold for parts as it has sat for 10 years. Surely the issue with Perks is where they have come from, commercial, agri, marine etc.. which dictates their performance and gearing. Sometimes an older engine will fly on the flat. I had friend with scruffy old series 2A and loose diesel which could hit 75 no probs, don't think it went up hills very well or any good for towing but boy did it fly. He put it down to being old and free reving.

Workshop aint state of art and yes bloody freezing at mo. Got some nice chrome end caps for rear bumper, thought classic might fit but my indie couldn't say and my Landy Guru has sold up! Seems to be alot of 2 doors met their fate at the hands of the grinder for bobtails.

Mine will be everyday transport and shooting, I use two wheels for off roading but getting abit old now for the mud and I live in a field so mud is not in short supply.

Cheers All, JimmymacD

Think even commercial engines only rev to 2,800 rpm hence the need for 5 speed box or overdrive, got me wondering what the TDI is in the 1980 2 door, and bigdave the 4182 is 3 litres, 4 cylinders 182 cubic inches = about 3 litres. cant help with workshop manual did borrow one off a guy when had mine but now lost touch with him.

OK KDS like isez i dont know whitch model it is but i can tellyer this it revs like fook ,its a lt77 box with 3`5efi gearing and diffs,granted i dont drive fast but it does 80mph no bother,previous i had a 2door with a landcruiser engine +4speed+overdrve,it used no oil or water but i wasnt up to the job,,,no way,between 2nd and third you had to rev it hard otherwise third was too high ,basically it was crap,the engine eventually threw a gudgeon pin circlip and scored the bore on number 3cyl so i was told by the bloke that bought it,i did tell him i wasnt pulling right,but he was a pro so i let him get on wiv it.....

now this one is a different proposition alltogether v8 out 3litre in same or even more torque the gearing is spot on,no flat spots,no struggling when you change up ect,i have no idea what it does flat out cos ive never tried it [not interested],but if you welly it very little gets past me+i drive steady normally and get 32-33 mpg ,it starts no bother but it must have HEAT,summer and winter alike...an old chap owned it before me when he was made redundant at 64 and a half years of age,he got the engine fitted by a local lr dealer so he could afford to run it on his pension,the motor was brand new in a crate from perkins when it was fitted 24000mls ago so its still brand new.when i was at work a lot of the machines had perkys in them ,the damb things are indestructable,they run without oil ,water ,the only thing they wont run without is DIESEL ffs...ill check with my mate and let you know witch engine it is......dave

Kds, not sure of engine, out of disco and fitted with gearbox in mid 80's, more likely a 200tdi. The chap has had it almost from new with 40ish on the clock. It had a Belguim van conversion in 1981 (rear windows filled in) what ever that means? It is RHD and very complete but scabby! The chap owns a specialist exhaust company which knocks out stuff for racing and GT40's. He made me a rip snorter for last RR @ 250 quid! Would probably put a new exhaust on for peanuts to any buyer. He offered it to me but I only wanted parts and would only offer 100 quid. He wanted nearer 500, so might be tempted with 300-500 in folding stuff, worth a punt for anyone wanting a ready made conversion or just for the engine. I would but pennies are tight and I need to work with what I've got before taking on anything new, if it was cheaper then I would buy for breaking.

Going back to my gearbox, did the 5spd long stick come minus a diff lock?
I don't appear to have one, fingers crossed it confirms it as a 5spd or I'm F&#cked with a Massey box!

cheers JimmymacD

HELLO LADS i called to see my mate and look at his books the engine in my rangey is a4182 perky ,2977 cc,normally aspirated diesel ,it actually has slightly more torque than the v8 it replaced which answers the question why it goes so well.he,s an ex plant fitter and manager he explained its what is known as a high speed diesel suitable for most applications,they are made in 2200cc,2500cc and 3litre same as mine,the 42 series are the old fashioned ,early type engines ie slow revving ,lots of lowdown torque,not much use in a motor,but ok for gennys ,boats ,plant ect...hope this gives you some answers lads ....regards dave