I really need help converting my GP38-2 to a GP7!!! I heard it can be done but i just don't know how. Please if anybody has done this before or knows how to do this please post instructions!!!
The differences between a GP38-2 and a GP7 are so great, there isn't a feasible way to "convert". I could write 5 pages of all the differences from frame length, to height to the number of doors on the long hood.
You'd be better off just buying a GP7 and be done with it, as there are so many differences in fans, vents, hoods, cabs, fuel tanks, overall length, etc. to make this job extremely difficult.
Ditto - I can't wrap my brain around that one either. GP7 side vents are grilles, while GP38-2 are louvered. GP7 cab roof is curved, with GP38-2 is angled. The long hood on the GP38-2 has that squarish raised bit that the GP7 doesn't have. Roof fan placement and shape are completely different. Some of the hood doors on the GP7 have horizontal louvers that the 38 doesn't have, etc, etc. Need more? You would need so many parts from an actual GP7 that's its easier to just use the GP7 as is.
Here's a question that might help us understand better -- Why do you want to tackle this? And what frame/chassis are you going to put it on? You can probably get a shell from somewhere much cheaper than a new engine entirely... although then you still get to deal with the trucks... -Rob
Theres a article in this months Model Railroader about rebuilding a GP7 into a Santa Fe GP7u using a GP35 cab. Is this what you are trying to accomplish?
As others have said. Just buy a GP7. Proto 2000, Atlas and Athearn all have HO models available in many roads.
Why not make use of it? I'm assuming you're interested in Santa Fe; that being the case, ATSF owned both GP38s and GP38-2s. ATSF GP38 - http://www.locophotos.com/Search.php?SearchRoadID=14&SearchModel=EMD+GP38&Search=Search ATSF GP38-2 - http://www.locophotos.com/Search.php?SearchRoadID=14&SearchModel=EMD+GP38-2&Search=Search
ATSFrio - Since EMD didn't start producing GP-7's 'til 1949 it would have to be the very late 1940's. I don't know when the AT&SF started buying road switchers, but it probably wasn't til the early 50's. Some AT&SF fan will probably read this and give you the actual buy dates, if not, the information is probably available on a/the AT&SF Historical site. While it seems to be ever more popular to model a specific year/month/day, I've deliberately chosen a ten year period. Yes, that does lead to some improbable, even impossible combinations, but, hey - it's your railroad.
Period I model a ten year period also. I find it allows more freedom in choosing cars(as in automobiles), locos, ext
http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/gp7.htm Santa Fe GP7s were delivered between Sep 50 and Dec 53. The only hood units (other than switchers) that the Santa Fe had before 1950 were RS-1s and DT-6-6-2000s. Unless I'm forgetting something...
