i’ve got a couple of gp 40 is sf blue/yellow. i know sf only had one that they returned. what are the primary differences between gp40 and gp 39-2? many thanks!!
The 2300 hp rated GP39 had a V-12 turbo engine, while the 3000 hp rated GP40 had a V-16 turbo engine (the 2000 hp rated GP38 had a V16 non-turbo).
The GP39 had a turbo exhaust stack like the GP40, but only 2 radiator fans and shorter radiator screens like the GP38.
There was what was called a “Phase III” GP39-2, which had the engine and DB shifted rearward some 3 feet (along with the corresponding doors) for better weight distribution. If I am not mistaken, all of Santa Fe’s GP39-2s were of the Phase III type, purchased for higher altitude work (where the turbo helps make up for the thinner air, just like in my sports car :)). There was even an article many many years ago in MR on modifying an HO engine for the Phase III GP39-2. Search the back issues for this article (and maybe order the back issue if you want to perform the mod, or see how much is involved).
Then there are the normal differences between the initial GP38/39/40s, and the “dash-2” GP38/39/40s. It differs according to prototype, but some of the more common details to be included on the “dash-2” engines are:
-small oval window in a door on the engineer’s side, under the radiator section.
-new truck design with “shock absorbers” on the end of one axle per side.
-electrical box behind the cab on the fireman’s side.
-rear cab overhang, and shorter intertial intake section to make room for that overhang.
-lotsa internal upgrades.
Fans and radiator screen configurations, nose length, vent locations, light configurations, etc. differed between prototypes also, so check on prototypes for that.
—jps
Well, I looked things up out of curiosity, and it turns out that I was wrong about that. It turns out that Santa Fe had both the earlier and phase III GP39-2s in blue/yellow.
So then to turn your GP40 into a close representation of an early SF GP39-2, all you have to do is swap out the GP40 radiator section for a GP38 radiator section. Other things like the electrical box, cab overhang, etc. is up to how close to prototype you want to get.
—jps
Thanks for the info. jps!!! That sounds like something I can handle (still pretty much a newbie at this point). Now comes the fun part! I really appreciate the information!