Do you think it would be relatively easy to swap an MTH scale NYC 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific boiler onto a Lionel Semi-scale 4-6-2 Pacific chassis?
Thanks,
Mario
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First of all, I'd say you won't know until you try. However, I've never heard of anyone trying it. You may be the first. If I had to guess, I'd say no, it won't be easy.
Gilly
My thoughts are the same as Gillys, No I don't think it will work. The drivers would never line up to the body as it should. You can give it a try but I do think it is a waste of time. I would just run the semi-scale unit.
Mario,
First, you need to find out if the steam chests are part of the boiler or a separate casting.
Next you need to find out the diameter of the boilers at the steam chest casting, to see if they're the same size and will fit.
Then you need to find out how long they are, to see if they'll go over the chassis.
I have a Weaver GS5 4-6-0 chassis that I'm putting a MTH RailKing 2-8-0 boiler on. I had to extend the boiler by 2" to get the steam chest mounting hole to line up, along with the 2 rear mounting screws at the back of the cab. I extended it by adapting an (are you ready) pill bottle. I even found a smokebox front (Stevenson Preservation Lines) that fits the ID of the pill box. I made a bulkhead where the bottle connects to the boiler, drilled and tapped 2 holes in the boiler to mount it semi-permanently. So far it looks fine (I couldn't find any brass tubing in town to use, so the pill bottle was my best alternative).
I would think if the length and diameter are close, it's doable. The mounting posts/holes/screws/etc may have to be "conjured" up somehow, but if there's a will there's a way 
If you have a micrometer or calipers you can get an accurate measurement of the boiler OD you have and if someone on the forum has the other boiler (and a set of calipers) you're all set.
