Originally Posted by
Stranger
Not if a relatively simple modification such as breaking the boundary layer on the engines, such as changing a bit cowling shapes, is the only thing required. Major modification is another issue of course.
The 2 major physical changes were longer nose gear, and the engines. The nose gear change also necessitated a minor change inside the nose gear well to accomodate the longer nose gear. The engines came with larger cowl but needed a pylon change to accomodate.
Granted I'm no engineer (I just play one on TV), I would think that changing the nose gear back to a 737NG style should be possible perhaps easy, and changing the pylon/engine mount to accept a CFM56 vs the current LEAP1 should also be easy. Then you'd essentially have a NGd MAX and the aircraft that have already been produced and are collecting cobwebs should behave like the NG did.