I'm going to to go the full Vid* and do a complete tear-down and restore of a Taxi, but first I need to buy some stuff.
The first thing on my list is deciding between a tumbler, an ultrasonic cleaner or both. There've been lots of threads about which brands of which device to buy, but I'm still unclear about the function of either of these devices and what standards I should use when deciding to buy one.
I know Vid likes the 18-pound wet/dry tumbler from Harbor Freight, and he's the only one I've seen actively endorse it. Vid, do you actually use it with wet media? Does that give you the same result as an ultrasonic cleaner? Also, you said the drum is really big. How big? Can you think of some parts that you're glad you were able to fit into that drum that you would have hated to clean by hand?
If I can accomplish the same task with a wet-dry tumbler than with two separate devices (and in reduced time because of the larger drum size) then I think the decision's been made for me. Otherwise I'll need to learn more about what results I can expect if I purchase one and not the other.
* I would also like to invoke the notion of the "full Whridlsoncestood" as well, but they say brevity is the soul of wit.