I have read that the Burlington Northern executive F-units were rebuilt to "GP38-2 Specifications" but I am unclear as to whether they had their as built 567 blocks with 645 power assemblies added or if they had "new" 16-645 engines installed
Railroad Forums
F unit engine replacement?
- Discussion of Electro-Motive locomotive products and technology, past and present. Official web site can be found here: http://www.emdiesels.com/.
Moderator: GOLDEN-ARM
One additional limitation is the main generator. If it is rated for 1750hp, then it wouldn't matter if you souped up the prime mover.
Chain driven Roots blower? I believe you will find that they were gear driven. Some of the earliest GP-20s went to the WP, (D-Day on the Western Pacific, Virgil Staff-) and EMD had to experiment with the gear ratio to get things just right. If I recall my reading correctly, EMD replaced, under warranty, 60 turbochargers in the first year, on a fleet of ten units. (FWIW, Baldwins had chain driven camshafts-) Also, I was not aware that 567s were used on subs.
This situation has happened. Beside the Australian application, look at the FL9AC. EMD 710, access traction motors, in a modified FL9 car body.