Having second thoughts on Ms. Pacman cab -- need input

[Diet_Pepsi]

So I acquired a ms. pacman cab a couple of days ago.  It's pretty beat-up, and the monitor has moderate to severe burn -- so much so that it is noticeable on the blue maze level.

I bought this thinking that I would gut it and convert to a mame machine, but...

- Everything seems to work well (with the exception of the right hand coin mech)
- The joystick is pretty good.  Has a little play at center, but, other than that, functions well.  Guessing the grommet could use replacing, but thats a pretty inexpensive part, right?
- The innards were a lot cleaner than expected
- I had forgotten how nice it is to play a ms pacman cabinet with original hardware...

So now I am thinking about keeping the original board in some fashion.  Some things that have been crossing my mind: 

-rip out the original wiring, re-wire the cab to JAMMA and buy a ms pac to JAMMA converter (so that I can switch between the original PCB and a Jpac)
-leaving the original as-is and getting a Mike Doyle 96 in 1 or an ABC board
-perhaps doing both of the above (convert to Jamma and upgrade the original board)

Am I nuts for taking this on and trying to save the original hardware?  I'm attaching some pics so that you guys can take a look...

This is going to stay in my garage so I am not too concerned about the external cosmetics (except for the CP overlay, which I will replace regardless).

[kahlid74]

Typically it's looked down upon to get a cabinet that still works and Mame it (especially a classic).  So no, you're not crazy for it.  If you can save it/refinish it, there are people who would want it.  So the idea is to buy a cabinet shell of a game that is broken and gut it/mame it.

If I were in your place, I would attempt to save the game and refinish it.  I would then sell it and buy a shell of a cab to MAME out.

[Generic Eric]

The lack of other answers should suggest that Khalid's answer is *the* answer.

Fear not.  You can have the cake, eat the cake, restore the cake and then sell it for profit.  Here is what I mean. 

Step one:  trace the cabinet, build a replica.
Step two:  get your ms pac fix on the unit you purchased. 
Step three:  fix that old girl up.  Get intimate with the joystick.  Buy a new one and replace it. 
Step four:  if you are inclined to learn how to, work on the tube.  Do what you can. Swap in a new one.  Maybe you want a lcd in your replica.
Step five: work on side art.  Start on your replica with your stencils.  Hopefully they can be reused.  Consider stenciling the old gal. 
Step six:  by now you have a spot on replica and a fully restored original.   If you don't decide to flip the old gal for profit, you have an original game and a replica you use for vertically orientated 4 way joystick games in mame.

If you are into this,  you literally can't lose!

[Diet_Pepsi]

Thanks guys.  Gonna keep it as a dedicated ms pac.  Ordered a new cp overlay and a 96 in 1 mike Doyle kit.  Also bought a second original joystick to use while I tinker with the one that came with the cab.

Now all I have to do is convince the wife to let me buy a project cab for Mame...

[yotsuya]

Kudos to you, bro! 

[jennifer]

    Jennifer is pleased to see your love for this game.... Let future gamers chop it up if they want, you can enjoy it until then.

[keilmillerjr]

If you feel the need to modify it, maybe you could convert it to a ms pac man / galaga unit? Would it be hard to do? Would it devalue it? Just suggesting it as an idea because the two cabinets look awfully similar besides the two extra buttons, and I love playing galaga.