Question about the 7 1/4 rear end.

Why would you waste the time and effort to repair one of these in such major ways? It would probably be less work to find a 7 1/4 in good shape drum to drum that someone pulled in favor of an 8 3/4. I would take this situation as a gift - a great excuse to go to an 8 3/4... even an 8 1/4!