Difficulty of saving a cabinet?

Ok, so I can get this small cabinet near me for probably super cheap, most likely under $50. Thing is that the seller doesn't know anything about it, can't tell me if the monitor works, doesn't know if there's a power supply in it either (he did say the monitor worked as of the last game in it, which was removed due to acid burn). All he says is that there's some wiring, an isolation transformer (PSU?), etc...in it. On top of that I'll obviously have to make a new control panel, fix it cosmetically and things like that.

I'd really like to get this as a project and get it up and running again. But I'm a novice at all this stuff so I'm wondering if I'd be getting over my head as far as electronics go. I'm confedent about wiring a jamma harness, buttons and joysticks, but the PSU and monitor have me worried. I've heard about cap kits for monitors to fix them, but what situation exactly calls for that? Is it difficult to do? And is wiring a a PSU as simple as attaching the right wires on the jamma harness?

And in your opinions how much would it cost to replace everything, minus the monitor? I ask because I know there's people who mess with this stuff all the time, and I appreciate any help/opinions.

Here's a pic of the cab:

A used monitor can be got for $150 shipped on ebay... You might as well buy a new isolation transformer... I think they are like $15....

You also might as well get a new PSU... YOu can get one with a jamma harness on ebay for under $50..

Also you want to replace that controll pannel..... GO with a happs competion and some buttons....

If that's an 8-liner cabinet (slot machine) it won't be JAMMA, I think.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like it might be worth having for a cheap price. And it doesn't really matter to me if it's jamma, I figured I'd have to rewire the whole thing anyway.

And it's got a 13" monitor in it now, but doesn't it look like a 19" could also fit in there? Would that be possible?

Nice little cab..
I'd make that baby into a lil Neo Geo cab..

With dedication you can pull it off...

Hmmmmm.....

From my own experience with buying used Jamma Conversion cabs I'd say forget this one and shop around for a working empty cabinet fully Jamma wired with joysticks and buttons. This route will assure you the monitor works (probably larger) and not much restoration.

You can find them for cheap....like $300 give or take. That one looks small, and it will most likely be alot more trouble than its worth.

Joysticks on Ebay will run you around $40.00 for 2 Happ Sicks and full set of buttons and micro switches.

It may be good experience for you though....control panel looks to be pretty small for 2 joysticks and buttons. It can be used as a verticle screen cab for shooters though.

I might get flamed for saying this... but that Cab would make an AWESOME MAME Project... Just throw in a computer monitor and change the controlls...

If you don't wanna go the Mame route, Put in a computer Monitor or a TV hooked up to a Dreamcast.....

Robert Wallace said:

Hmmmmm.....

From my own experience with buying used Jamma Conversion cabs I'd say forget this one and shop around for a working empty cabinet fully Jamma wired with joysticks and buttons. This route will assure you the monitor works (probably larger) and not much restoration.

Click to expand...

Best advice here.

By the time you finish restoring/modifying it for what you want, you're going spend a lot of cash. Personally, for that cabinet, I don't think it's worth it.