Best frame/motor for Anthearn

[seanhill1969]

What is the best frame/motor combo (DCC) for an old Athearn blue box GP-60?
Thanks

 

[UP2CSX]

I'm not sure what you're aksing. Are you wanting to replace the frame and motor just to add DCC? If so, that's not really needed. A-Line has a repower kit for BB Athearns but I can't see any reason why you'd want to replace the frame. The standard motor and flywheel combination of the GP-60 should provide good performance once you switch over to DCC.

 

[seanhill1969]

more info

What I have is a old GP-60 shell that is factory painted to be NS 4610 a one of a kind unit. I don't want to buy just the standard "blue box" frame and motor when I can get a better motor for not much more. Just getting back in the hobby after a 12 year period and have bought alot of new DCC locos but I like this shell frame and motor are in bad shape from water damage.
Thanks

 

[UP2CSX]

I don't know where you get a better motor for "not much more". The only repower units I know of are by A-Line and they run about $42 each. It seems more logical to get a standard Athearn frame and motor. You can still order these directly from Athearn or you can pick up one with a damaged shell on e-bay.

 

[thaddeusthudpucker]

You can still order these directly from Athearn

...And it is very possible you will wind up with an awesome recent mech. When I ordered replacement F7 mechs for some shells I had (this wound up not being the case...) I spent about $30 apiece and wound up with the brand new mechanisms. I spent $60 and wound up getting $100 worth of locomotive out of the deal. I found a couple of unpainted F7 shells at a hobby shop in the used bin, so I picked them up at $1 apiece and they are becoming my F7 AA Set...

 

[kjd]

I don't think Athearn made the GP60 frame with the correct wheelbase, they just used the GP38-2/40-2/50 frame so the shell could probably be adapted to one of the new Atlas GP40-2 frames.