LL PROTO GE Sideframes

[Deleted]

I have a proto 2000 U30B by LL pre walthers.

Has the old athearn clone trucks it's in WP orange/silver with the EMD sideframes.

My question is will athearn GE AAR sideframes fit with little issue's

As i would like to make it more of a mid-western unit.

Or will i need to try to locate the GE sideframes from walthers.

Thanks

[DelmarJct]

I tried doing this on a LL GP30, Alco trade-in trucks to EMD sideframes. The axles would have lined up, but they'd updated the sideframe design, so the isolator shims wouldn't fit right. I'm not sure about the U30B, but something to keep in mind.

-Ryan

[fr8kar]

Athearn's original AAR B trucks had the same wheelbase as the Blomberg B trucks, so the sideframes could be swapped between them. This causes Athearn's AAR B sideframe wheelbase to be too short.

Life-Like made a new blue box style truck and AAR B sideframe for their Alco FA and it has the correct length wheelbase. Life-Like also made a clone of the blue box truck and Blomberg B sideframe with the correct shorter wheelbase, so there are two similar but different wheelbase Life-Like trucks out there.

If your model originally came with Blomberg sideframes, only the Athearn AAR B sideframes will fit, not the Life-Like sideframes. You could swap out the entire truck/sideframe assembly with Life-Like's AAR B truck, but it would probably be easier and cheaper to find some Athearn sideframes.

[Deleted]

Thanks RCH that's what i was wanting to know.

As tomorrow i call walthers with the part # listed on the directions to see if they have any left over sideframes.

That's why i asked here as i have a feeling i might have to rely on athearn parts.

But wanted to make sure before i get to far with this project.

[Deleted]

Does anyone have an extra set of athearn BB GE AAR sideframes or at least one to try to see if it/they will work.

Guy at walthers says no parts available then tells me the athearn U-B sideframes won't work but these really look like the old athearn trucks when they changed them to plastic sideframes.

Really needing help on this one.