I need some advice fitting decoders and speakers in a pair of Ho scale Life Like Proto 2000 SD60/60M units. I am looking at using SoundTraxx Tsunami Decoder 828042 (TSU-AT1000) for EMD 710 Diesel Engines (3rd Generation) with a SoundTraxx 810112 Oval Speaker. Will these two work fine together, and what is the best way to go about modifying the chassis/ weight? I am planning to mount the speaker under the radiator fans so the sound can escape the shell, will I stilll need to make a baffle for this. This will be my first dcc conversion, so any tips will help.
I converted a P2K SD50 & SD60 but with different components. I happened to use a LokSound Select decoder (with appropriate sound file) and used sugarcube speakers, a pair in front and a pair in the long hood. In each case I needed to modify the weight. In one case I used my bench grinder (carefully!) but the downside was the heat buildup allowed the cheap metal to weaken and bend and I managed to break it into two pieces, but easily epoxied back together. On the second, I had a machine shop do it (for $20). I’ve since found an acquaintance car buff who has a milling machine, the best option.
On the speaker, an enclosure is certainly recommended. You can make one with some sheet styrene and make it work with the speaker, weight and shell. If the weight is open / slotted, the speaker can fire downward but if the fans are open firing upward is fine.
EDIT: I’ll add a couple of photos. The decoder sits over the motor. The front speaker has two smaller sugarcube speakers, using the weight as the floor and adding two sides and sealing any opening slits with silicone to ensure the enclosure is complete. The rear speakers are two larger sugarcubes, and a fairly shallow enclosure box.
My best advice is to have a qualified person do the install and reverse engineer what they have done. Too many first timers on these forums have tried and failed on their first attempt.
You may have to cut on the inside of the shell to get that decoder to fit in the pre-milled out section of the chassis. On my P2K SD60s there is a pair of plastic tubes that are for screws that you remove just forward of the rear truck to get the shell off. The TSU-1000 EMD 710 (827103) might be a better fit (toss the 8 pin adapter, the lighting board, and the giant light bulbs). Measure first to be sure. The speaker you chose should work. Also this thing looks like it has an Athearn motor sys
