Lionel die cast husky stack conversions

 any metal framed cars need either plastic KD couplers or their boxes when the wheel sets only have one insulated wheel. Must be something grounding to the frame?

Budkole, I believe Michael Pitogo did a conversion with the Lionels.  I tried a search, but could not find it.

Forum archives don't go back far enough.  This conversion was from 2008.  About 25 were done in factory style production workflow.  Bulk pack of 100 NWSL 33" steel .145 wheel sets for Lionel spinners.  Fastest way to convert was disassemble, dremel and drill-holes for Kadee.  NWSL wheels were double insulated so no need to worry about metal gearbox/plastic coupler or metal coupler/plastic gearbox.  All I have to say is that the HO guys have it good.  They have proper prototypes AND they don't need to convert.  How nice would it be to have a 3 unit 53' TrinityRail or Maxi-Stack IV or 5 unit 40' articulated TTX car. 

My photos no longer work, here is a link to the album.  

What is the NSL part # for the wheelsets for these cars?

They should be 70 Ton trucks with 33" wheelsets,if they are 100Ton with 36" wheelsets they could be touching something although my cars ride lower than Mikes with no coupler shims. I see assembled wheelsets are 17.95 per set of 4 from NWSL.

Here you can see a TTX car converted with Atlas 100-ton trucks and a CRLE car converted with the Lionel Roller Bearing trucks with NWSL 36" wheels. 

Neither method has any issues with operation.  Both ride very low to the rail.

Budkole,

If you're using the NWSL wheels in the Lionel trucks to make your conversion, make sure the insulated side of each wheelset is on the same side of the car, otherwise you would be creating a short through the body of the car. I had this experience back in 06 when I converted my first Lionel stack car.

Ok, been troubleshooting for the better part of 3 hrs.  I am using atlas 100 ton trucks but also have 70t as well.  Interestingly I have found that the newer thinner atlas trucks are sparking when I just let them roll freely unmounted!  But the older thicker sided truck don't spark at all.  So I opened a new pack of the newer thinner trucks, same thing sparks.  Next I opened a set of the new old stock thicker sided trucks, and you guessed it, no sparks.  Unless I'm missing something, the newer atlas trucks are not insulated properly.

I did change the couplers to plastic box/metal knuckle and vice versa.

no sparks on the thicker sided trucks

plenty of sparks with thinner sided trucks

wheel flanges not rubbing

Walt, my 100 pack 33" .145 spinner set was 129.50 at the time.  Good for 25 cars.  They all ride great.  I'm gonna put that train back on the rails, 25 huskies and three 5 unit Gunderson twin-stacks. 

Great price at that time,also 100 pack helped. Looks like today to do a few cars is a much bigger investment,they are good looking wheelsets though. I have used mostly Atlas 2 rail 70T 33" wheelsets [prototypicaly33" is the correct size for these cars]and still have the Lionel trucks.