I'm wanting to swap out a MPC lionel shell for a Bachmann / Williams shell looks like it might work. Need some help this is the old type no sound and bells and whistles just plan old MPC chassis
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It works.
Yup, done it on several occasions, both backward and forward !
Hey thanks guys that helps me a lot
Do the screw holes line up or do you need to create a custom mount?
Screw holes line up.
Interesting, because I've heard mixed messages about this for quite awhile. I was about to pick up a Williams Geep and one of the first things I wanted to check was compatibility with Lionel shells. I have swapped older Lionel Geep shells with newer TMCC/RS-equipped Lionel chassis for years, and was going to try this with Williams chassis'. With the Williams chassis, and their DC motors, an ERR Cruise Commander could be installed.
Starting in the later 90s, though, Lionel started mounting their traditional Geep shells to the chassis' with four screws from below rather than a single screw in the front and the back, so a little more surgery is required.
Yup, I've done it too, lines right up. You might have to mess with handrails a little, but overall it's a direct fit.
Thanks I have the old 2 hole at each end sound good I will give it a try
How about the MPC GP20, U36B and SD18 shells?
Those Lionel chassis' are the same as their GP-9/GP-7, so the shells should be interchangeable, with a couple caveats. Putting Williams GP-9/GP-7 shells on Lionel chassis' should work, except the UBoats have somewhat different handrail setups, so some changes might be required for those. However, putting a Lionel GP-20 and similar low-hood shells on a Williams chassis might be a problem, because the Lionel low-hood shell might not fit over the front motor of a two-motored Williams chassis'.
