Replacing Couplers in Older Brass Cars

[Not so Handy]

I recently acquired some older used, but well detailed O scale 2 rail coal cars. Only after I got them I was stumped when I found that they had non-operating couplers that were in a completely sealed draft gear box. I'm guessing I have to do some major cutting to make room for a Kadee draft gear box. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I've tried both YouTube and Google with no results. Thanks in advance of any tips.

[tstage]

Can you post any photos?  A few close ups would be helpful, too.

And, in the event you are unfamiliar how to post photos on the forum, here's a helpful primer on the topic:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx

Tom

[mlehman]

Tom's right, pics would be very helpful here.

Couplers on hoppers can be an issue as they often mount onto what turn out to be rather spindly structures rendered in brass. You're better off if you can make the existing coupler mounts work in some fashion, because cutting out and replacing can be a challange as you seem to have already suggested.

The key to making this work is having the old box mount at roughly the right height for the model you're building. Kadee's HO gauge shows this, not sure about O.