Help - metal trucks for Atlas freight cars

I've put Weaver diecast trucks on them, but they also will ride a little bit high unless you modify the bolster.  Might be better than the Atlas trucks though.  As far as the original trucks go, I haven't had any uncoupling issues when coupled to Lionel.  Maybe you could try fitting metal wheel sets to them.  Next time I'm down in my shop I'll take another look at them.

Ray, coincidently I just replaced those plastic trucks and couplers on an "old" Atlas (pre-AtlasO) gondola today with Weaver die-cast trucks and couplers.  They fit well and the ride height seems fine to me.  Not sure if they will work on the old Atlas boxcars, but may be worth a try.

I would really prefer metal trucks, wheels and couplers. They run a lot better than plastic wheels do and I don't like the look of the plastic side frames. 

 

The couplers is a totally different issue. They just don't look good and plastic couplers don't stay connected very well.

 

I know that 3 rail trains for the most part are not 100% prototypical, but I like my trains to look a lot closer to the real thing. 

 

Thanks for the info on Weaver. I do have a pair but the bolster does need to be cut down, not easy to do.

 

Maybe a totally new floor is the only answer.

I've added weaver die cast trucks to some of the old atlas cars. It's not hard at all.
You don't have to trim the bolster down much. Just make it flush with the center beam. A razor saw will do it.
Take the plastic pin that holds the old trucks and drill a small hole in the center of it, cut the locking tabs off it, then glue it back in its hole. When you mount the weaver trucks, drive the screw through that hole in the pin.

I've put Weaver trucks on Atlas Gondolas. I inserted a small wooden dowell rod in the Atlas truck pin hole, cut it flush and then screwed the truck on into the wooden insert. The height doesn't look bad at all.

I use the old Atlas plastic trucks and coupler all the time. It is a very unique looking coupler. latches onto Kadees and lionel type well. I just cut the little finger off that sticks down. They have flat wheels not no ugly fast angle stuff, have a pocket for oiling the axles, and adjustable coupler length, they roll quiet, roll better than new atlas(but not as good as they should),take paint well and easy to remove coupler if you decide to go with Kadee's and sit at a lower height. The axles have a more prototypical look. To bad they are so light. Just paint them and they look good.

At six bucks for a locomotive, track, three freight cars, and a caboose, they were difficult to resist three decades ago.  I kept a few for light loads when breaking in new locomotives.  I don't like plastic trucks or wheels either, but the cars were so cheap they did not deserve metal Athearns.  I just re- contoured the flanges and stuck dummy scale couplers on them.  Not great, but adequate for 2- rail track, and with the original flanges probably ideal for tubular.