If you were going to mod an old SA 200....

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...what would you put on it?Background - I bought 2 SA-200's from another member on this site.  Both are round-barrel copper-wound machines, from 1963 and 1969.  They're in pretty good shape appearance-wise.  Because it's been sitting, one needs at least a little work to get running, but its engine was just rebuilt.  The other needs a fair amount more work which might include an engine rebuild before it's properly ready to go.I freely admit that I bought these machines because the price was good enough that I could hopefully resell at least one at a profit.  I will weld with it first to see if it's really the best thing since sliced bread, but I'll most likely keep my TB 302 for my own money work.  I'm in reasonable driving distance from some pipeline work in PA, so that's my target market.  I'd like to update the machine so it already has what a pipeliner would want on it.  Here are my thoughts - please give me your opinions.1. Hybriweld's Donaldson air cleaner kit.  These come with primary and safety filters and would be the first no-brainer upgrade I'd make to the machine if it was mine.  Costs about $120.2. Electronic idler and alternator conversion - since the machine won't auto idle-up when 110V power is used, if it were mine I'd get pretty tired of having to walk to the machine to idle it up or down manually.  These cost about $600.3. Cable's Remote - possibly.  I've never used a remote for stick welding before.4. Neither welder has a trailer, but I have a feeling the buyers I'm looking for won't be wanting it on a trailer enough that building or buying one would be profitable.  Opinions?With the above things done, I'd have around $1800 (plus labor) in the machine assuming the battery, oil change, choke cable, and carb kit I'm putting in now gets it running with no other problems.  There may be starter issues too.  A lot of money I know, but I want the machine to stand out as one that's been tastefully updated and ready to go to work, one that I personally would be interested in if I was looking for one.These are pieces of cake compared to my SAM 400, which I've just about got the OCV problem figured out on, and carburetor rebuilds and engine work are things I do on the side when welding is slow, so if this works I may make welder rebuilds into another small side business.What do you think?
Reply:I'm in the process of putting another machine together now. I'm thinking about going with the electronic idler up grade instead of the R-57. I have machines with the bellows, and R-57s, and electronic idler. The vacuum idlers jump to high RPMs just as fast as the electronic, but as you say it is nice with the electronic idler when you use a grinder. The Cable remote is a must!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I turned down $3,700.00 for one of my Red Faces a few months ago, but right now on ebay things are looking pretty slow. Really nice Red Face didn't meet minimum bid, it only got up to $1,500.00Another guy has had a Red Face on ebay for a couple months, starting bid $3,300.00 hasn't got a bid yet.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Yeah, I hesitate to even call these Red Faces - the 1969 one came with a black face from the factory even though it is otherwise the same including the round barrel and copper windings, and the 1963 machine has a black face on it, although I don't think it's the original faceplate.  I've verified that both faceplates have the same code number as the generator housings, so at least someone did stamp the new plate on the '63 with the correct numbers.  I'll probably transfer the numbers and put the correct red faceplate on it before I sell it, though.