De-Converting Cabs, are some cabs just not worth the trouble?

Gaetznes

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De-Converting Cabs, are some cabs just not worth the trouble?

My friend and I picked up a couple of cabs just abit ago. Originally Bosconian and The Pit. Both Cabs are in decent shape. They currently have Time Pilot and a boot of Ghost N Goblins in them. The Idea was to give us additional group projects to increase our experince with working with Arcades. I've learned alot from reading on this site. More so that some arcades are well Classics. So don't destroy the cab, don't multi-cade it. That sorta of thing. Which is something I've learned to respect.

I'm just woundering before we do anything, if I could get a few peoples opinion. Are these games worth de-convert? Hunting down the pcb's and marquees for, so it can preserved. Or just have our way with them? I'll be honest, the intent is to flip them once we are finished.
 
it's rare to make a profit after a full restore, i really don't see myself making any money off of any of my machines that i've restored (tho i've never looked at them as a cash cow). I honestly love working on them the most and i'm not sure what i'll do once they're all restored (maybe rip them all apart again to correct any flaws?).
 
Both of these fine gentlemen have told you what you needed to know. Restores will not bring the money in. Only do a full restoration if you are planning on putting the game in your collection. And even then, only if it is worth it too you. The cost/benifit analysis should include the likelyhood that you may never sell the game, or if you do, plan on taking a loss.
 
A deconversion is almost always a money loser. In the case of the titles you have I don't even think you would end up with better games.
 
So, basically nothing is being disgraced by gutting it. Drilling a few wholes for buttons, throwing a 19 in 1, Slapping a VGA monitor. Keep the CGA monitors for us. Flip it and hope to make $20 or more.

Edit

Id also like to say thanks.
 
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My friend and I picked up a couple of cabs just abit ago. Originally Bosconian and The Pit. Both Cabs are in decent shape. They currently have Time Pilot and a boot of Ghost N Goblins in them. The Idea was to give us additional group projects to increase our experince with working with Arcades. I've learned alot from reading on this site. More so that some arcades are well Classics. So don't destroy the cab, don't multi-cade it. That sorta of thing. Which is something I've learned to respect.

I'm just woundering before we do anything, if I could get a few peoples opinion. Are these games worth de-convert? Hunting down the pcb's and marquees for, so it can preserved. Or just have our way with them? I'll be honest, the intent is to flip them once we are finished.

Sadly, you cant save them all. Now if you hoard that cab and sometime down the line come across one thats waterlogged or whatever, there you go.
Ive been holding onto a converted-converted-converted-gutted joust cab with this very hope for about the last 4 or 5 years... someday joust...someday.


Ive had more then one machine that had been 2x or 3x converted, they ended up semi-original looking multis. Its not the ideal situation but at least now those machines will get another 10, 20 years of play.
 
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I have always seen poor feedback on The Pit, people say it's a lame game. I have never played it myself though.
 
Yeah, if you don't want them, then clean them up put the 19 in 1 board in them and sell them back off.
 
You probably won't get your money back but it sure is a lot of fun taking something like these cabs:
IMG_5786.jpg

and turning them back into this:
IMG_7889.jpg
 
You probably won't get your money back but it sure is a lot of fun taking something like these cabs:
IMG_5786.jpg

and turning them back into this:
IMG_7889.jpg

Thats scary, beat up the arkanoid/centipede cab a lil and its the same damn thing I've got at the moment, only I'm going to convert it to a Dig Dug intead of the centipede it was

Back on topic: my guess is if you can get the parts cheap enough/its a game you really want then deconvert; otherwise hack away. I was contemplating the same damn thing with my Arkanoid/Centipede cab I found.

However if I find out the Bosconian you picked up could have easily been turned back into a Bosco with little or no effort, I may have to hurt you. I've been dying to snag a Bosconian
 
Well if you are going to do a FULL restoration then you might as well start with a converted cabinet, since you are going to replace almost everything anyway.

From a money point of view however it doesn't make any sense unless you absolutely HAVE to HAVE certain titles.
 
I've deconverted Gauntlets, those have to be about the absolute worst to deconvert because of the money involved. Tron would be nearly impossible too without spending a fortune. Once you buy the artwork it just destroys whatever profit you're going to make on them.
 
I've deconverted Gauntlets, those have to be about the absolute worst to deconvert because of the money involved. Tron would be nearly impossible too without spending a fortune. Once you buy the artwork it just destroys whatever profit you're going to make on them.

I have always said, there is only one price point to buy tron at and that is $700 - $800 for the one someone else already dumped $1200 into.
 
If it's your hobby... de-convert.
If it's your business... flip them as they are.

Hobbies aren't money makers, they are money pits. But what you get out of a complete restore is worth more than what it cost you.
 
However if I find out the Bosconian you picked up could have easily been turned back into a Bosco with little or no effort, I may have to hurt you. I've been dying to snag a Bosconian

Thats where one of the problems lay. From the out side the cab is Good. No paint over, no removal of decals. No ones etched there name in etc. Even the front decal is in decent shape. You would just have to replace the marquee.

Inside, thats a differnt story. The harness has been hacked multiple times and hardwired through many home made converters. They also put in a switcher ps, but alot of the older wiring is just siting there. You would have to use meter to test what wires were alive or not.

One of the reason I'm for gutting it out. Be a bit lazy, slapping in a Super Jamma Harness. Use a jamma adapter and plug in the respective game. If I were to do a quick flip.

Seriously though PulseMan. If we were closure, I'd offer it up for trade to you no problem.

If it does not go the flip idea. I do enjoy the idea of doing a full on project, converting it to a Pac Man. Only because the wife is looking for me to get it.

Edit: Just some quick research, but I figure it would cost me easily over $500 to do a good clean conversion, thats implying I can trade for the board. I'm getting off topic here.

I know what people are saying with its either a business or a hobby. But truly, I don't own a single thing thats static. Meaning that I don't have a attachment to items that would prevent me from selling it. I could fit those items that I would never sell in a backpack, wedding pics, heirlooms. I'm also Not saying i'd make money, but it has to be worth my time. I"ve learned that MY personal happiness is no longer connected to the growth of assets, but the enjoyment of what I have while I use it. If i'm not using it, get rid of it. Sorry getting into a proclamation. Once again getting off topic.

I do figure I have got my answer. Only do a de-conversion if the game means something to you. The Pit not being one of those games. If not, sell it, trade it, convert it. Give it new life. Don't destroy it. I just would prefer there to be a larger community of people like you, local to me. It would be nice to be able to swaps etc. Saddly, I have like 3 people near me, that love to mame everything and make frankenstein CPs.
 
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The problem with bosconian is it isn't worth much. So if you do restore it, you're not going to get good money out of it. You'd probably get more money out of the time pilot.
 
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