Are the P38s a good idea?
a good one may be alright, but I'd heard some major horror stories about interlinked systems, pneumatics? hydraulics? electrics? causing all sorts of problems, like once one thing failed it caused others to fail, or have I got that wrong? A friend of mine is big into his Rovers, LRs, RRs etc, old ones, newer ones etc. He runs a Classic RR, maybe 3.5 , maybe bigger, gas conversion (2nd kit, and he's considering taking that off) has had to do plenty of mechanical work to it, but if you got the skills and facilities B/man, wouldn't think that was a problem. Like Eatcs01 I've heard of the cracked block prob, basically the original block castings were a bit thin for the bigger engines, once the miles started clocking up, the expansion and contraction cycles were causing cracks, coolant was getting between block and liner, and liners got loose, I understand RPi have made better blocks, but that will be costly option, maybe easier than finding a sound secondhand block or engine though.
I've not had much prob with Mitsubishi l200 pick up, 2.5 turbo diesel, a mate got good use from 2.8 Mitzi Pajero, the Toyota Landcruiser seems to have good rep, Nissan Terrano 2/Ford Maverick seems to last (Dunno about later Mazda based Mav) or what about Volvo AWD or the XC, or an Audi Quattro/Allroad etc? Or maybe a Suzuki Vitara?
