Well guys, as I said, MB Transits is a member here, so you could try sending a PM (or a question through eBay) if you are interested. For my way of thinking, and for that money, I go by the old saying: "better the devil you know than the devil you don't know," which would lead me to a genuine weld-up and regrind. i don't know how much that would actually cost, but I doubt it's close to $700.
Richard L.