At the Rusty Wheels show last weekend, my Giraffe Express GG1 had some issues with the front pilot truck hopping the somewhat uneven track at the host layout. The problem was simple: The wheels weren't planted on the rails with sufficient authority!
Consulting my Greenberg's repair bible, I learned that my early Williams chassis was constructed in much the same way as postwar Lionel Gs: The pilot trucks were basically left to wave in the breeze.
So! A quick look at modern RMT and Williams Gs in my collection revealed that modern Gs have a little spring and washer on the pilot's alignment pin, keeping them pesky wheels planted.
Okay, the problem was presented. Now, how was I to get the Giraffe G properly sprung?
Why, SCROUNGE, of course! 
The springs come from retired supermarket barcode scanners; the washers are Lionel 9T-16 ground washers with the center holes drilled appropriately (in this case, 7/32").
Now the GG1 has all 20 tootsies firmly planted!
Mitch
