Can kinematic pilots be swapped out for the traditional pilots?
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Are kinematic pilots like what some of the old weaver engines had? They sound like the coupler is bolted the the frame of the engine and are fixed and don't follow the track. I have never seen one but have ordered one. Just trying to figure out what I got myself into.
They cannot be swapped out for traditional pilots, unless perhaps it's a model that recently got updated to this type. Then you might be able to find traditional ones on the Lionel parts site. But it could require you to get truck blocks for you to mount those pilots down, since chances are the trucks on the model will not have the mounting locations for normal pilots.
The Kinematic pilots are semi-fixed pilots. They aren't connected to the trucks, they're attached to the frame and have some side to side movement so the model doesn't have a really wide curve requirement.
Bear in mind to run a heavy freight car behind the engine, and also idealy have the freight car with couplers that can pivot side to side. Otherwise the engine will make that car derail on curves.
The Lionel Kinematic pilots not only pivot side to side, they also increase the coupled car spacing from the locomotive on curves. Unfortunately, the Lionel diesel Kinematic couplers also run into my Caboose ground throws on my yard switches, so any diesel that has them can't enter the yard without me manually moving the coupler as it passes the ground throw so it won't derail the engine. 
