Cockpit Monaco Gp arcade - I want to gut and make a racing cab

[portyman]

Hello,
I just acquired a Monaco Gp arcade cockpit cabinet. The game works fine but there are sound issues and the screen is weak. I think I want to put pull it apart and put a raspberry Pi, new monitor and new steering controls in it  Has anyone done this and can offer some suggestions?

What would be a recommended steering wheel? I have done similar with arcade machines,  it never had the opportunity to do it with a racing cab.

Thanks in advance.

[baritonomarchetto]

I don't think a monaco GP is the best candidate for a conversion. Yours is still working too... This is not KLOV, but original arcades are going rarer and rarer and one should ask himself if selling it to buy something generic is the proper solution.
Would you mind to upload some pic of the cabinet? Maybe it actually is a generic cab with monaco GP stickers on it
This being said, there are various options to convert a cabinet. Whatever you will choice, try your best to apply reversible modifications because one day you will want to revert it to it's factory conditions

[Mike A]

Don't gut a working classic arcade machine.

[bperkins01]

Don't gut a working classic arcade machine.

+1

[nipsmg]

Also, isn't that a vertical cabinet?  That'd be a pretty bad candidate.  You'd be limited to the games you could play, and I'd be surprised if you'd be have room to rotate it to be able to play horizontal racers.

[Mike A]

You would also have to pull the entire wiring harness and start over.

You don't live anywhere near Chicago, do you?

I would buy that cab from you and you could use the money to get something more suited to what you want to do.

[Howard_Casto]

I don't think you realize what you have if it is indeed a Monaco GP (no "Super").  Due to the use of some analog circuitry components, Monaco GP isn't even in mame.  Couple that with it's age and it's extremely rare to get the opportunity to play this one in it's original state. 

[yotsuya]

I don't think you realize what you have if it is indeed a Monaco GP (no "Super").  Due to the use of some analog circuitry components, Monaco GP isn't even in mame.  Couple that with it's age and it's extremely rare to get the opportunity to play this one in it's original state.

Yeah, I’d buy one if it came locally here. Love Monaco GP.

[Mike A]

Yeah. Its a fun game. Right now mine is acting wonky. It is on the repair list.

[bperkins01]

Yeah. Its a fun game. Right now mine is acting wonky. It is on the repair list.

check.

[Mike A]

You can stay at my place as long as you want to in October. I have a lot of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- to fix.

[jennifer]

I dont recall ever even playing that...I wonder if I have one around here somewhere...Hey Jenn!...Go out back and look for a Monaco race car thing!

[bperkins01]

You can stay at my place as long as you want to in October. I have a lot of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- to fix.

I got 3.5 hours sleep Friday/Saturday for legit Arcade reasons - I can take it

[Howard_Casto]

I hate to ask... what are non-legit arcade reasons? 

[Mike A]

Eating all of pbjs wings and drinking most of opt2nots scotch.

[bperkins01]

I hate to ask... what are non-legit arcade reasons? 

Ruining good cabinets by tearing them apart..  not legit!

[portyman]

Pics of the cab

[portyman]

Pic 2

[portyman]

Pic 3

[portyman]

Pic 4

[portyman]

I have added a few pictures. To expand on my original post. The cabinet is physically in awesome condition. The controls all work and the game plays fine. The problems I see are there is no sound and the screen is very light. I am not sure if it is dirty or just dying. I do not have the keys so I have ordered a lock pick to open it up and see the insides. It will be here Thursday.

I have read all the comments and understand and agree. I don’t want to destroy a game, but i am worried about obtaining replacement parts. The monitor looks especially challenging. 

[jennifer]

Drill the locks out, order new ones (They are cheap)...Monitor most likely needs a cap kit, but a clean and balance with a rejuvenator probibally wouldn't hurt it, and bring back color for awhile...Personally I would convert it to something faster, newer and of this century, Nascar perhaps?

[DeLuSioNal29]

Post that thing on KLOV and it will be gone in minutes. It's in beautiful shape!

Then use the money to build a proper Mame driving cabinet. I wouldn't touch that thing!

DeL

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

[Howard_Casto]

9 times out of 10 audio issues have something to do with the amp not working... then again given the unique nature of that cab it could be something else.  It's in great shape and semi-working so it's worth a decent hunk of change.  I'm with the peanut gallery, if you want a racing cockpit sell that baby to someone who wants to keep it original. 

[nipsmg]

You could sell that to pretty much anyone , pick up a Crusin USA/World, daytona, or SF Rush, convert it to a driving cabinet, buy all of the parts, PC, monitor, interface, etc, and have a decent amount of $$ left over.  If you're really looking for a MAME driving cabinet, I'd go that route.

[portyman]

So I have read and listened to the posts and I agree with the points. I will preserve the game. Thank you for comments

Update
I tried to pick the lock but couldn’t so I had to drill it out. When I  did I discovered that the sound board had been knocked over and disconnected. Once it was reseated the sound came back. That was some nice luck. Here are some pics of this beast.

[Howard_Casto]

You forgot to post the pics.