Lionel conventional 0-6-0 dockside switcher shell and Lionel LionChief 0-6-0 dockside switcher shell swapping question

Best way to find out is test and see.

When I needed a rear coupler for my LC docksider, I ordered one off the conventional docksider. It fit perfectly. In the pictures they sure look the same.

It appears that they're just shoving LC electronics into their traditional designs.

I have not opened up a LC Docksider, that said, the space inside the conventional docksider is extremely limited.  You had to do some dremeling of the shell even to install the ERR Cruise DS board that was specifically designed to match the footprint of the original docksider driver board.  Thomas and Percy LC engines are crammed full of electronics and they are a bit more spacious than the docksider.  I'm guessing it won't just swap out without some modification inside the shell.

El Classico posted:

Best way to find out is test and see.

I would if I had a LionChief 0-6-0 Dockside Switcher, El Classico.  I do have an 0-6-0 conventional Dockside Switcher shell but no access to a LionChief 0-6-0 Dockside Switcher unless I bought one, and I don't really want to buy a LionChief 0-6-0 Dockside Switcher since I'd have no use for it if the conventional 0-6-0 shell I have of my favorite railroad wouldn't fit the LionChief's frame. That's why I asked this question first rather than buy a LionChief Dockside Switcher and it be useless to me if the shell couldn't be easily swapped.

Hoping someone who repairs engines, such as GRJ, Alex M, or others might have worked on both the Lionel conventional and LionChief versions of the 0-6-0 Dockside Switcher and be able to advise me, or perhaps someone on this forum might own both variations and could check and compare the shells. Thanks in advance, guys and gals.

Granted it's not the same thing, but I do have a conventional GP-38 from the "Northeast Heritage" set and a LC GP-38 from the "Keystone Deluxe" set. The shells interchange perfectly.

I also have the Bethlehem Steel LC 0-6-0 Docksider. The LC electronics are very compact. It does not appear that the shell was modified or "hogged out" in any way for the LC conversion.  The picture of a conventional docksider shell on the Lionel parts website looks identical to my LC docksider shell.