@BillYo414 posted:Is "hot rodding" not a verb where you're from @Hot Water? We use it where I'm from to describe the act of customizing something beyond it's intended form.
Sounds to me this isn't a project worth pursuing unless it's an easy project. Sounds like little reward for potentially much work.
If doing mods and upgrades is your cup of tea, start small and increase your own challenges as you master each technique,….start by adding ( or even subtracting sometimes) components that should or shouldn’t be there,….this is the path to becoming a modeler, and not just an operator,…..pick a locomotive, or piece of rolling stock, and study the prototype,……add pieces and parts to suit a particular timeframe that interests you,…..half the fun is just developing models that the big 3 ( now 2 1/2) didn’t make,…..that’s far more rewarding than a rod popping out 1-2mm…..😉…as an example, this was a 18009 Lionel Class L3a Mohawk I’ve rebuilt into an earlier class L2d ,….so gone is the Worthington heater in favor of the accurate Elesco, with MOSTLY the correct plumbing,….I’m sure Jack can pick out the one part that isn’t correct, and what plumbing needs to be re-routed, but it’s on my winter to do list now that I have the parts on hand,….but the point is, start small, then work your way up,…..next thing you know, you’ll be the master,…..
Pat 
