I have attempted conversions on many engines. The MTH 3/2 are fairly straight forward. I stay away from older chain drive engines for example. I don't feel they're in my vision of acceptable performance. I like big consists of engines that work well together. Some bigger Atlas engines work with the MTH ones that I have. I have Atlas switchers on the shelf waiting for my attention.
The newer Lionel look like they have removeable wheels so I thought I'd try one. I bought one and never did it.
I have an older Lionel engine that someone else converted. The trucks mounting are not in the middle. So they tip as the engine accelerates. This causes it to do a wheelie and pop off the rails on turns. So they installed a screw that hits the frame to prevent this. It doesn't work reliably. Some have put a form of a stiff wiper to do this job I've seen.
The Lionel boards need attention to get along with my MTH ones on the same rails. They won't work in the same consists though. The Lionel signal caused havoc on my RR and I never bothered to fix that. I just isolate it on a different loop.
That, and a long list of other work, has kept me from moving forward on another Lionel conversion. Just mounting the pilots and couplers looks like an effort. Maybe the newest Lionel is better for this conversion??
