Converting Sunset brass 2-rail 6-wheel truck passenger car to 3-rail

I changed a Sunset brass 21 inch passenger car from 2 to 3 rail in about 5 minutes by purchasing a 3 rail passenger truck set from Sunset.   There are four problems with this conversion:  1.  I had to leave the Kadee coupler on the car because the underbody detail of the 2 rail car interferes with the travel of truck mounted couplers.  I suppose I could solve this issue by cutting off some of the underbody detail but I was unwilling to do this.  The Kadee couplers mate with most of my 3-rail equipment but not all.  2.  There isn't easy way to install lights using track pickups.  I didn't install lights.  3.  O-72 curves and larger are needed.  The swing of the 3-rail truck will hit the underbody detail at anything less than O-72 curves.  Curves larger than O-72 are recommended to make this conversion method really work unless you are willing to remove underbody detail.  4.  The conversion was expensive.  I have forgotten how much I paid for the 3-rail trucks because I did this over 10 years ago.  NH Joe

NH Joe,

Thank you for the great detail.  I can live without lights and I have O-80 and greater curves.  Going to Sunset makes since for new trucks, but I wonder if Lionel's or MTH's passenger trucks would work.

I guess I will buy one and try the conversion.

If Scott has them I would go with Sunset. He may even consider taking yours in partial trade. I have used Lionel 2 axle three rail trucks on GGD streamliners and only had a drill a new hole in the Sunset mounting plate as the Lionel pivot stud is off center. I have used MTH trucks on GGD heavyweights (see below) though with little modification needed. I used early 1990 MTH trucks with simulated springs. Later MTH heavyweight sprung trucks are a bit longer. I think they could be used though.

BTW I found 4 MTH cars for small money. Much, much cheaper than buying new trucks from MTH. Another reason for looking for early cars. Also had a little help from my friends, cue Ringo.

Pete