Cosmetic Surgery - Loco mechanism swap

[Philip H]

Anyone know if the old Life Like shells (from before the were gobbled by Walthers) can be swapped to better mechanisms?  I have an IC GP38-2 that's a custom Bev-Bel paint job I want to revive, but the internal workings are dead, so I thought I'd see if anything else would work.  I suppose I could Bad Order it to the LRV Shops in Cambridge, but the amount of derision I am likely to receive from their foreman makes me hesitate . . .  :-*

[wm3798]

I've done more with less.  I've got a variety pack of mechanisms, including a stock Atlas GP38, which one would assume would be a nominally close fit.  I might even have the corpse of the very same Life Like beasty, and see if there's a fit there.

Odds are, the death of your engine is really just a coma, brought on by poorly designed truck pick ups.  Resolder a couple of wires, and it might be good to go.  It's also pretty easy to install a small decoder in there as well.  Despite their chunky details and marginal mechanicals, those old GP's can be made to run pretty smoothly.

Lee

[Philip H]

SO you want to turn me into a mechanic too huh?  Thanks for the advice.  I'll have to tinker this week.  Funny thing it the LL F7 that I redid in KCS white many moons ago runs like a fine swiss watch.  It's on my decoder conversion lsit for near term ,. . . .

[wm3798]

I can fix it for you easy enough...  It's not too delicate a surgery... but it takes a steady hand.

[sirenwerks]

Phil,

I have a quantity of never run undec GP38-2 for sale - $45 OBO. Not sure of the parts compatibility and can't check right now, but they're free and delivery can happen quickly.