JohnnoK Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 What bits would I need to swap the petrol engine to a diesel in a GEMS engined P38? The petrol one is hard on the wallet, 'er indoors can't seem to lighten the foot, but she loves the ride of the Rangie. I have access to an engine, transmission and transfer box, removed with ancillaries, so what else will I need to source to complete the job? Engine and mounts ECU Engine and engine bay harness assembly Fuel delivery bits in tank BeCM Or, will the existing one be OK Transmission ECU What have I left off the list? Is this doable or a fool's errand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Surely a lot cheaper to just replace it with a diesel P38? I'd test drive one first and make sure it suits, too - the P38 diesel is smooth and not terribly underpowered once you get the revs up, but it suffers from terrible turbo lag which rather ruins it particularly in auto form. You may find you've gone to a lot of trouble and expense only to find her ladyship doesn't want to drive it any more (especially if, as it sounds, she's a fairly enthusiastic driver). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Is an LPG conversion an option over there? I wouldn't bother with converting it to diesel tbh. Gutless and overstressed in auto form. And would need a different torque converter to the V8. To do the swap properly you'd have to buy a diesel Rangie and swap everything over that you need... but then you already have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnoK Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 On 9/30/2020 at 12:18 PM, geoffbeaumont said: Surely a lot cheaper to just replace it with a diesel P38? I'd test drive one first and make sure it suits, too - the P38 diesel is smooth and not terribly underpowered once you get the revs up, but it suffers from terrible turbo lag which rather ruins it particularly in auto form. You may find you've gone to a lot of trouble and expense only to find her ladyship doesn't want to drive it any more (especially if, as it sounds, she's a fairly enthusiastic driver). I have only ever see one Diesel version here, and the owner was NOT interested in selling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnoK Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 On 9/30/2020 at 12:47 PM, elbekko said: Is an LPG conversion an option over there? I wouldn't bother with converting it to diesel tbh. Gutless and overstressed in auto form. And would need a different torque converter to the V8. To do the swap properly you'd have to buy a diesel Rangie and swap everything over that you need... but then you already have one. We have LPG for forklift trucks and such like, but as a roadgoing thing, hen's teeth rare. I do not even know of a refueling place in Cape Town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 So you'll have to ship the engine and ancillaries in anyway? Might as well ship a whole car then, I'd think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 There is a Facebook page for BMW engine conversions in Land Rovers, really centred on M57 transplants, but it does include M51,.... in among it all there are a few P38's and it will help you understand the compromises and issues associated. The P38 has many small differences in fuel and control systems which make life complicated. most people opt for the manual gearbox to avoid the transmission control issue but can then run into clutch trouble. Check out BeaDy.com for his camper conversion and Rangerovers.pub , Sloth on there has just put an M57 (next generation M51 with common rail and much more grunt) into his Thor V8. It isn't something that is easily done, and to do it for an M51 as per the original fitment is probably going to be disappointing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnoK Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 On 10/1/2020 at 1:39 PM, elbekko said: So you'll have to ship the engine and ancillaries in anyway? Might as well ship a whole car then, I'd think. The engine, box and TC are here in Cape Town at a used engine/box importer. Shipping a complete vehicle into SA is a nightmare unless it's over 40 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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