If this topic has been done before, I apologize, I couldn't find it on here, but does anybody have any tips for lowering the ride height of Lionel's F7s? I have one of the "breakdown B units" that I will need to lower to match my Atlas F3s coming this winter (hopefully...). Thanks!
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There have been instructions from myself, laidoffsick and Norm Charbonneau. You should wait until you get the Atlas F3s to be sure of the height.
The simplest is to cut the plastic mounting posts in the body shell. I make a tool at the correct distance to measure the cut. You'll also need to make sure the smoke unit clears the lowered body and probably need to shim the fuel tank the distance you cut. The late china drive trucks prevented me from doing it the way Norm did , but I don't know how your trucks are mounted.
Good luck.
Will, search "centralfan1976 lowering Lionel F7s"
Doug
The Lionel F7s are quite different than the F3s and a much more involved process to lower them because they used a different design to mount the trucks. Cutting the body posts on the shell is not going to get the look you want coupled with an Atlas F7. You will still have a high water look between the frame and trucks, pushing the frame much higher than an Atlas F7, and very obvious when coupled together.
For all that trouble....I would just buy another Atlas F7B.. oh I already did. I have 3 Atlas F7Bs and 3 Lionel F7Bs but would never run them together because I dont feel like doing all that work to the Lionel Bs.
Thank you guys! I appreciate the input and direction to the other page! The primary reason for using the Lionel unit is that I already had it, and don't really need/ can't afford a third powered unit.
It can be done, and it's worth it!
The NYC Atlas F3s are correct height off the rail (measured by digital caliper) and the F3 & F7s I lowered match perfectly...
Check it out here: Lowering Lionel F7s
Thanks,
Mario
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