Rebuilding P8 / BR38 to digital with Märklin 60903

Updated 15.06.2009

I have rebuilt Märklin 00380-1, 3099 and 34988

Decoder:
I installed the decoder in an old 6090 decoder cover, glued to the weights in the tender.  The pick-up shoe is installed under the tender and light guides from NoHAB Di3 (Märklin part number 215230) are installed in the two lower lamps. A small two-pole SIL (Single In Line) socket is glued to the tender floor, holding the 28 Volt T1 bulb for the rear light.
The front lamps are replaced by small grey bulb sockets (604180). Also here a 28 Volt T1 bulb.
The noise suppressors are installed on a small experimental printed circuit board, which is installed where the reverse unit used to be.  Also the brown ground wire and the brown/red wire for f1 are soldered to the pcb.
Decoder functions:
f0 = light with directional change, three in front, two rear
f1 = interior light, driver's cabin (not connected yet)
f2 = rear light on also in forward direction
f4 = acceleration and braking delay off

Motor:
Installation of the motor itself is very simple. You need to remove the screw for the left hand control rods to access the lower motor cover screw.  It is not necessary to remove the rods.  Carefully bend the rods aside to access the lower motor cover screw.
Notice the flat area above the rotor shaft. Approx. 1 mm have to be cut off to make the locomotive body fit.  I used a sharp knife.