Lionel Husky Stacks/Double Stacks/Well cars

These cars are very straight-forward to convert to 2-rail. My opinion is to swap out the trucks with Atlas O 100T 2R trucks altogether, and add Kadee couplers. You'll need to add some styrene to the area for the Kadee, then add your couplers. Same as you do on other cars that need this type of treatment. But the end result is awesome. 

70T or 100T RB trucks? Also, is there any drilling into the diecast to mount the Kadees?

Curtis, I've converted these by adding atlas trucks as Jeff states as well as used the Lionel roller bearing trucks and changing out the wheelsets with NWSL.  Both turn out well.  Added Kadee's by drilling/tapping 2-56 holes.    See attached photos

I'm not aware of Atlas making these cars in O Scale, however, MTH makes a similar car and those convert much the same way.  But as you say Lionel are diecast and track super well.

I picked up some of the latest run of these Lionel Husky Stacks this past year and they came equipped with the new design Lionel roller bearing trucks with the plastic bolster which allow you to purchase the Lionel 2-Rail 33" (70 Ton) conversion kit (~$20) to at least handle the truck part of the conversion to 2 Rail relatively easily.  The coupler retrofit, as Mike Deberg shows above, is still not optimal as it requires some drilling, tapping and shimming for the use of a Kadee draft gear box.  Please note; however, that the die cast "coupler pad area" on the end of the car only allows for drilling one draft gear mounting hole as the rear hole in the Kadee draft gear box lands right over an opening in the casting so the rear hole in the coupler draft gear box is not usable, e.g. draft gear can rotate side-to-side if not also glued in place.  Also, that die cast "coupler pad area" is not that thick so not a lot of mounting screw thread engagement for that single lone coupler mounting screw.  These cars are very well detailed and do make a nice addition to a modern era fleet but just need a slight tweak in the coupler mounting area to make them a fully universal 3R / 2R piece of rolling stock.

Scott

It looks like Kadee 806's would work best for this application.

These are great cars. Just wanted to add that if by Atlas you're referring to the Maxi IV cars they are also Die Cast. They are beautiful and just as well detailed if not more so than the Lionel cars.

After reading all of your replies, I've decided to go with Atlas when I can afford to buy them. I'm tired of the work it takes to do 2 rail conversions. 

FYI, these cars are NOT scale Length[ NOt by much at least]. They have been shortened for the sake of being proprietary different.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

FYI, these cars are NOT scale Length[ NOt by much at least]. They have been shortened for the sake of being proprietary different.

That's disappointing to hear. Is the length short enough for people to notice? 

I'm not a 2 railer but I might be some day so I try to learn a little here and there.   Check the links below on some information/advice on conversions of Lionel Husky Stacks.  Make sure to click on the spreadsheet link (pictured below) in the first hyperlink thread for some extra detail.

https://ogrforum.com/...ky-conversion-update

https://ogrforum.com/...96#45074140789498396

I just bought 3 Husky Stacks to convert to 2-rail. I have 2 5-car sets of the Atlas Gunderson Twin Stacks that were converted from 3-rail to 2, one set by me and another by Beth Marshall from the Public Delivery Track. I’d like to get 2 or 3 sets of Atlas Gunderson Maxi IV’s just to have a little variety in well cars. I had 4 from the first run but sold them. Now, I wish I would’ve kept them.

The Atlas O scale 45' containers can fit inside the Lionel Husky-Stack cars.

Andrew