I am thinking of getting a new Lionel Railway Express Car but my layout is postwar. How hard would it be to put a set of older bar-end or staple end trucks on this new car? I don’t want to perform major surgery, and would like to be able to undo the switch at some point if need be. I have never even seen a modern car like this.
The trucks are usually held on cars with either a rivet or a ‘C’ clip.
If the trucks are riveted on, you will see that one end of the rivet looks something like a nail head and the other end is peened - formed somehow so it will not come out of the hole. Grind the peened end of the rivet until you can remove it. Re-install with a new rivet, using a small hammer to peen the end.
Trucks held on with ‘C’ clips are a little easier. The ‘C’ clip is a small spring shaped like the letter ‘C’ that snaps into a groove in the pivot pin for the truck. Use a small screwdriver to pry the ‘C’ clip off of the pivot pin. ‘C’ clips sometimes take flight when they come off of the pin, so be ready.
Good Luck.
The “rivets” are often called eyelets or eyelet rivets. There are tools for peening them back or “setting” the eyelets. The diameter and length of the eyelet will drive you to a certain size tool. Robert Grossman who stocks parts for Marx trains has a complete set of the tools and a boat load of the eyelets too. I use a dremel tool to cut across the top of the eyelet to remove it. Mr. Grossman can be reached at 216-738-0602 if you need any such items.