I'd like to turn a MTH Premire GP-40 non powered unit into a powered unit. Is this an expensive endevor not worth the effort. Should I just keep searching for the powered version?
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The easiest and sometimes least expensive route is to buy a powered unit of any road and just swap out the shells. Because some models change I would suggest doing this with the same release of that model.
I'm looking at doing the same thing to an older PS2 GP-40 dummy. I want to run a MU with two MTH MKT powered units and right now I have one powered and one dummy (different cab numbers). To do this I'm looking for a same year GP-40 in any road name to swap shells, hopefully relatively cheap. It needs to run good, and I don't care what the shell looks like.
If what you want is the shell (maybe its a favorite road name/number) I think this is the least expensive and easiest way to get it powered.
Edit: Joe beat me to it
Bossman284 posted:I'd like to turn a MTH Premire GP-40 non powered unit into a powered unit. Is this an expensive endevor not worth the effort. Should I just keep searching for the powered version?
Not cost effective to try to power the dummy.
It would be cheaper to buy another powered unit.
Dave
Engineer-Joe posted:The easiest and sometimes least expensive route is to buy a powered unit of any road and just swap out the shells. Because some models change I would suggest doing this with the same release of that model.
That's what I did, was given a non powered unit as a gift. If you decide to have another later you can always search out the powered unit and you'll have different cab numbers.
Thanks for all the responses. I figured swapping the shells was going to be the general consensus, but I'm having difficulty finding a reasonably priced powered GP-40,in a road name I can use a dummy in! My search shall continue.
Thanks!
Quite a bit of work to outfit the dummy shell. Marker lights, spring contacts for the power pads, ditch lights, cab lights, and directional lights all come to mind to just put the shell on another unit.
However, a lot more work to not only outfit the dummy shell but to also power the dummy chassis! 
I have done several of these, not a GP40 but a U28B and a GP38. As others have already mentioned, try to make sure whatever powered unit you purchase is from approx the same time frame as your dummy. Over time MTH changed the method of making the electrical connections from the chassis to the shell for all the lighting functions. Some have the springs with the contact plates while others are just wire/plug connections. Also some dummy engines just had red and green plastic class/marker lights that were not illuminated(I don't know about your specific engine). If you wish to use the illuminated class/markers lights from the new powered unit you will have to remove the existing plastic lenses from the dummy and drill the mounting holes larger as the illuminated markers from the powered unit are a larger diameter. At least that was my experience on the dummies I converted.
Nick
Motors are $25 each and Powered Trucks can run $35 each. Pickups another $20. Then a PS-3 Diesel upgrade kit at $200. So about $340 and no smoke. Smoke and funnels another $60. Then the labor. So close to $400 parts. So...… G
I would buy another powered unit and swap the shell.
Swapping shells seems like the answer! Who as a MTH Premier GP-40 made in 2004, that they want to sell?
