I recently became the proud owner of a USAT GP-38. What I would like to do for now is make it into a battery car, to supply “'Trons” to my SD-45. I would like to do so in a manner that will allow me to reverse the procedure easily sometime in the future, should I so desire.
Has anyone done this before? Any hints? Suggestions?
Thanks, in advance.
Steve Featherkile
edited to remove stupid finger misteaks 
Well Steve, never having had one, much less having it apart, I’ll offer this. If it’s made like the older (GP-9) motor blocks, you should be able to open up the block and remove the motor with only a screwdriver. With the motor removed the trucks will free wheel.
Assuming you you will provide your own path for the trons to get from the 38 to the 45, the wiring in the 38 can remain intact and go right back to use if you put the motors back in.
Jon
It’s that easy?!?!?!?! Wow. I haven’t even opened it up, yet.
Wolf,
I’ve done quite a few.
Yes, take it apart and remove the weights for starters.
Take a photo or drawing of the plugs and such on the circuit board and unplug the motors, then drop the blocks.
Now take notes and unplug the wires from the block.
Remove the side frames and then the cap and then the motor with its buss wires intact.
put it back together sans the motor, wires, etc.
You can’t just pull out the motors from the bottom due to the buss wire soldered to the motors.
Work from the top of the block.
If you are going to use it for a battery car, unplug the circuit board and remove it to get a flat floor to work with. Curl up the light, smoke wires and tape them to the shell out of the way.
Iffn you want me to do it for you, bring it to the next meet.
jb
John’s right. I was confusing my memory of the Bachman Dizzy truck with the GP-9 trucks. Bachman Dizzy motors are just a spring fit for the electrical connection.
If you decide to have a go yourself, you will need a LONG, skinny Philips to get at the screws.
Got 3 JIS long philips in the tool chest just for USA trains. 