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Shadowfax



Member Since: 25 Jul 2023
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 6
United Kingdom 1986 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Santorini Black
P38 Steering box Conversion
Ive had a search of the forum. I cant seem to find many people that have done a p38 steering box into a defender. Im hoping someone has done it with the blackbird industries conversion kit.

The P38 box is meant to be stronger than the adwestas far as i can see. I'm worried the kit changes the geometry of the steering. Yes its only slightly but would love to have some feedback from someone that has one and driven it.

Thanks
Post #1002222 29th Jul 2023 9:11pm
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410
United Kingdom 
I confess i have never heard of this modification.
Post #1002241 30th Jul 2023 7:39am
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1397
United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
The only time I've heard of it done was to gain clearance for an engine conversion, Jaguar V8 or Ford 5.0.
Are you changing your engine?
Post #1002242 30th Jul 2023 7:52am
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Shadowfax



Member Since: 25 Jul 2023
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 6
United Kingdom 1986 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Santorini Black
Possible change to M57 but not concrete yet. All i know is i want to change the old 300tdi (Great engine but do miss my TD5) out to keep up with modern traffic and improve the refinement on longer journeys.

Steering box also needs rebuilding or changing out for a recon box. Hence why the possible change if im changing it out, do i change it for a potentially better box.
Post #1002244 30th Jul 2023 8:24am
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 398
United Kingdom 
The blackbird kit is essentially what was used on the 70th anniversary defenders with the 5L V8’s, Mike who runs blackbird used to work at bowler when they built them. If LR were willing to use that type of set up then I would imagine that the impact on geometry is going to be low

Given that your steering linkages have to run through the wheel arch, depending on your suspension set up clearance can be very tight.
Post #1002250 30th Jul 2023 9:02am
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Shadowfax



Member Since: 25 Jul 2023
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 6
United Kingdom 1986 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Santorini Black
Thats great to know thank you
Post #1002253 30th Jul 2023 9:57am
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shanecl



Member Since: 20 Mar 2013
Location: Louth
Posts: 496
Ireland 1989 Defender 90 V8 Petrol CSW Auto Firenze Red
What M57 are you fitting. I have done the conversion with the X5 engine and changed the PAS pump and air con pump with a 330d one and was an awful lot cheaper then buying the black bird industries bracket
Post #1002827 3rd Aug 2023 9:33am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 707
United Kingdom 
jimbo55 wrote:
The blackbird kit is essentially what was used on the 70th anniversary defenders with the 5L V8’s, Mike who runs blackbird used to work at bowler when they built them. If LR were willing to use that type of set up then I would imagine that the impact on geometry is going to be low

Given that your steering linkages have to run through the wheel arch, depending on your suspension set up clearance can be very tight.

What do you mean by suspension setup? Shocks and springs stay in the same place for 99% of Defender suspension kits (front).
Post #1002830 3rd Aug 2023 9:43am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 707
United Kingdom 
Shadowfax wrote:
All i know is i want to change the old 300tdi out to keep up with modern traffic and improve the refinement on longer journeys.

Refinement I agree about, although I wouldn't expect a huge jump just by switching to another diesel engine. There is far more that makes for poor NVH in a Defender than just the engine.

Keeping up with modern traffic should be no problem with a tweaked Tdi, certainly in the UK at any rate.
Post #1002831 3rd Aug 2023 9:47am
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1034
France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
I recall this is also a possible swap for those Land Rover Series users who want Power Steering.
Post #1002833 3rd Aug 2023 10:01am
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 398
United Kingdom 
I mean in regards to the shock turrets you use, I run a VB kit which has a shock in front of the turret and I know that it won’t clear the steering column
Post #1002834 3rd Aug 2023 10:01am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 707
United Kingdom 
TexasRover wrote:
I recall this is also a possible swap for those Land Rover Series users who want Power Steering.

It is and it worked well on my SIII 88, although I didn't use this kit.
Post #1002836 3rd Aug 2023 10:07am
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 707
United Kingdom 
jimbo55 wrote:
I mean in regards to the shock turrets you use, I run a VB kit which has a shock in front of the turret and I know that it won’t clear the steering column

I guess that would fall into the 1% category then! Very Happy

BTW, who are VB?
Post #1002837 3rd Aug 2023 10:08am
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shanecl



Member Since: 20 Mar 2013
Location: Louth
Posts: 496
Ireland 1989 Defender 90 V8 Petrol CSW Auto Firenze Red
Its an air suspension crowd, serious piece of kit
Post #1002879 3rd Aug 2023 2:57pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2217
United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey
[quote="Chicken Drumstick"]
Shadowfax wrote:


Keeping up with modern traffic should be no problem with a tweaked Tdi, certainly in the UK at any rate.


Except that the Tdi needs it's neck wringing to keep up, the M57 does it effortlessly 😁 I like mine very much !
I wouldn't change the steering box to a p38 one, if yours needs changing because it's worn out, change it.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey
Post #1002895 3rd Aug 2023 4:16pm
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