| Author | Message | ||
     Alan Bates (Alanb) Senior Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 305 Registered: 07-2002 |
For those interested or thinking about lifting a P38 Range Rover, here is what I have done: 96 RR with motorcarsltd EAS to coil spring conversion kit installed. Replaced front springs with OME 761 PS springs and rear with OME 781 PS springs. Resulting lift was 2.75� in front over stock and 3.5� in rear. Please note that the stock springs are much shorter than D1 or RRC springs, that�s why I got so much lift. I added 15mm of trim packers to bring the front up a little, total lift: Front 3.35�, rear 3.5�, the RR sits about 3/4" taller in the rear (measured from center of wheel to top of wheel opening arch). Being a cheap **** I kept the Bilstein shocks. For the front shock, I installed a 3� square steel tube to raise the front bottom shock mount up 3� and used JKS #3100 sway bar quick disconnects for a Jeep GC, I have got back all my down travel with this setup. The brakelines are pretty close to fully extended under full drop. I have not messed with the rear shocks yet, so the limiting factor in the back is the shocks, have to look into getting longer shocks. I put on BFG MT/KM 265/75/16�s with no rubbing problems anywhere and a ton of room to spare, I did have to remove the front mudflap, it would rub under certain conditions. The ride is excellent, as good and if not better than the stock air springs, nice firm ride without any harshness, corners well too considering the lift and tires. Absolutely no vibes at any speed, tracks very good, but not as good as stock, but most people won�t notice the difference. Lost a little bit of pickup speed, but not a big difference, they�re all slow anyway. All in all, very happy with the outcome, but still need to do something about the rear shocks and eventually the front. Have not had a chance to put it to the off-road test yet, but will be able to next week in Colorado. For high res pics open my P38lift folder: http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/[email protected]/lst?&.dir=/p38lift&.src=bc&.view=l     | ||
| Randall Smith (Mr_smith) Member Username: Mr_smith Post Number: 62 Registered: 04-2003 |
I'm really digging your shock mount in the lower photo. Could be made stronger(if needded) by welding a plate onto one opening of that square tube. I have 1.5" extentions on my front shocks. Randall | ||
| Bill Collett (Bcollett) New Member Username: Bcollett Post Number: 17 Registered: 07-2003 |
What is the largest tire you can go to witout doing a lift or the spring conversion? | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 442 Registered: 04-2003 |
damn, lookin good! | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 894 Registered: 02-2003 |
very tight, i like it a lot have me thinking p38 range rover next year instead of Classic 1995 LWB -rob | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 445 Registered: 04-2003 |
yeah, it has that "stock with an attitude" look to it. Very stealth, very nice. | ||
| Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 440 Registered: 02-2003 |
man that looks excellent. best looking thing I have seen al day | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Senior Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 306 Registered: 07-2002 |
Thanks for all the positive comments, we'll see how this sucker works in the Colorado mountains next week, hopefully it works well. The prices of these early P38 Rovers are great and dropping everyday, I set a goal to make this one a good daily driver as well as a decent off-roader but nothing too radical. Bill, check here for the largest tire on a stock P38: http://www.rangerovers.net/rrtires.htm#mkii Randall, the tube is 3/16" steel so hopefully I shouldn't have any problems. | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1036 Registered: 02-2002 |
Looks really good - glad to see someone modding the P38's - you'll probably be the trendsetter - LOL Bill | ||
| Rhett Krulla (Retro78) Member Username: Retro78 Post Number: 43 Registered: 04-2002 |
Alan, Brilliant Job! I should really consider those spacers for the front of mine. It does look a little odd with the rear so much taller. I love the look of the BFG/MT's as well. I have 265/70/16 whihc are ab out 1" smaller and wish I had gone up to the bigger tire. I am thinking about some black nato style rims with the 265/75's next spring for my trail rides. Again, great job! | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Senior Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 307 Registered: 07-2002 |
Rhett, I had no idea what kind of lift I would get when I first put on the OME springs. It sat about 1.25"-1.5" taller in the rear and it started to bother me, so I added the trim packers and now it is about 3/4" taller in the rear, which I can live with. In hindsight I maybe should have tried the 751's in the front, but not sure if that would make any difference, plus the ride would be harsher. Could possibly put 764's in, but that may have given too much lift. Black steelies with some mudders would look great on your rover. | ||
| han chung (Hanchung) Member Username: Hanchung Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2002 |
alan, I think your set up is awesome. The roof rack, FF hellas, lift, 265/75's on the alloys very nice combo. For some reason, the 265/75's on alloys combo is the best tire/wheel combo by far for either Disco II and the P38's. Although the limitation in tire size doesn't stop there, any bigger sizes and steel wheel look like shit. In function and aesthetic purposes your choice is definately the smartest choice. Also the fact that you didn�t hack your front bumper half way and only trimmed the bottom lip, that�s nice too. Some owners have tried lifting their P38s by modifying their air suspension and using inappropriate components to achieve useless goals and the result is crap. Whatever they�v done might work, but still look like crap. Nice and clean OME conversion is the way to go. The only thing though about your set up� that square tube/shock extension� I have never used any shock extensions before, but never hear great thing about it either. Besides, your P38 has an awesome traction control system so to risk damage over few inches of wheel travel� I would mount the shocks to it�s original place. So far, the P38 looked best stock, now your OME lift shows that the P38 can look good as well by �kickin it up a notch�� LOL | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Senior Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 309 Registered: 07-2002 |
Thanks Han, I'm gonna see how the shock mount extensions work out. If I bust or damage the shock, it will give me a good reason to replace it with a longer shock. The hard part will be finding a shock that will work with this lift. | ||
| A. Ali (Alia176) Member Username: Alia176 Post Number: 106 Registered: 03-2003 |
Alan, Good job. It's nice to see someone using their noggin instead of their wallet when it comes to simple mods. I think your shock extension square tubing will compress under load due to the fact that Bilsteins are under such high pressure. Like Randall said, close up one of the openings with a flat steel of say 3/16". Nicely done indeed. |
