For better compatibility with my mostly Atlas and Kato roster, in April 2008 I began fitting my Proto2000 GP38-2 shells to Atlas Trainman GP38-2 drives - the same drives that are under my Atlas Master series GP38s. This conversion has proven to be easy and very effective.
IAIS 719, the first unit outshopped with a P2K early-phase GP38-2 shell on an Atlas drive. The steps I followed for the conversion are as follows:
On the drive, remove about 1/16" from the front of the portion of the weight that fits inside the engineer's side battery box.
On the shell, snip off the two screw towers inside, the rear of the front numberboard inserts, the front of the rear headlight bracket, and the portion of the shell that extends below the blower duct on the
conductor's side. Thin the portion of the rear numberboard insert that extends into the shell so it won't interfere with the Atlas weight, remove the mounting cylinders for the air reservoirs and bell, and clean up all stray plastic along the underside of the P2K walkway piece so it'd fit flush against the Atlas frame. Finally, remove the clips that hold the P2K shell to the walkway. They prevent the assembly from sitting as low as it should on the Atlas frame, and since I ACC the shell to the walkway anyway, they aren't necessary.
You have a choice to either use the P2K air reservoirs or the Atlas parts that are added to the fuel tank. I feel the Atlas reservoirs are better executed, so I went with them.
The only other modification was to enlarge the bottom of both coupler pilot openings to allow the Atlas pockets to fit. Their upper piece is slightly different in thickness than the P2K coupler pocket, so you have to use the Atlas pocket with the Atlas frame to get the right coupler height. By: Joe Atkinson
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IAIS GP38-2 719 back-to-back with an Atlas factory GP38, more clearly illustrating the deck height comparison.
This conversion was a snap, and accomplished everything I'd hoped it would. It took less than two hours, and that was with all the trial and error fitting, disassembly, adjustment, and refitting. Now that I know what to do, I think I could complete it in around 30 minutes or so. By: Joe Atkinson
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IAIS 719, the first unit outshopped with a P2K early-phase GP38-2 shell on an Atlas drive. The steps I followed for the conversion are as follows:
On the drive, remove about 1/16" from the front of the portion of the weight that fits inside the engineer's side battery box.
On the shell, snip off the two screw towers inside, the rear of the front numberboard inserts, the front of the rear headlight bracket, and the portion of the shell that extends below the blower duct on the
conductor's side. Thin the portion of the rear numberboard insert that extends into the shell so it won't interfere with the Atlas weight, remove the mounting cylinders for the air reservoirs and bell, and clean up all stray plastic along the underside of the P2K walkway piece so it'd fit flush against the Atlas frame. Finally, remove the clips that hold the P2K shell to the walkway. They prevent the assembly from sitting as low as it should on the Atlas frame, and since I ACC the shell to the walkway anyway, they aren't necessary.
You have a choice to either use the P2K air reservoirs or the Atlas parts that are added to the fuel tank. I feel the Atlas reservoirs are better executed, so I went with them.
The only other modification was to enlarge the bottom of both coupler pilot openings to allow the Atlas pockets to fit. Their upper piece is slightly different in thickness than the P2K coupler pocket, so you have to use the Atlas pocket with the Atlas frame to get the right coupler height.
IAIS GP38-2 719 back-to-back with an Atlas factory GP38, more clearly illustrating the deck height comparison.
This conversion was a snap, and accomplished everything I'd hoped it would. It took less than two hours, and that was with all the trial and error fitting, disassembly, adjustment, and refitting. Now that I know what to do, I think I could complete it in around 30 minutes or so.
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