I have the same problem with a specrum GP-40 husle Musle loco. I found that the axles were rubing on the frame. I still wanted that growling noise for relisim but I removed the wheels filled the mounts with a fine round fiel. That quited the noice and reduced wear on the axles. With you Mountain check the axles if there is a line or rough on the axles fille the mounts.

you can tell partly on the wiring and the coils in the motor. the older coils will have coroded a little and don't have a shine. Also the wieghts will be a steel or iron instead of the new stanles steel aloys. If the coils are a dark brown dirt you might want to clean it by puting the coil in a oil bath and wire brush it.

The shell has clips on both sides take a thin screw driver and pry the sides slowly then pull up till the clips come of the frame then the shell should come off if no wires are atached.

You can barly tell the diverence the drivers are smaller on your conversion.

Well Being my first year of college i don't have that much cash to spend on anything but will save up and keep trying.

I would like to convert a B&O EM1 to a DM&IR yellowstone. I know what to do but need to find parts for the conversion. I need a spare challenger tender, a cab with doors behind the windows with a slant in the front and pilot beam detail. I already have decales for the conversion. but would like some advise.

With the decales on one side reversed you can get decal kits for WC and put them on or send in the shell and they will fix it.