Playstation 2 controller

Hello to everyone.

I have a broken Playstation 2 controller and examining the internal components, things still work appropriately, since only the case was damaged.

Since the poor thing is naked now, I was thinking about making a new case, only trying to convert it into an arcade stick.

My idea is just to solder wires connecting the buttons to the controller and a stick to the place the D-Pad used to go.

That said, I have found buttons in a local store, but not sticks. Could someone direct me to a good online store that carries them?

Also, what would be a good way to connect the buttons to the controller? I don't know if soldering would be the best way. Any suggestions?

I just fixed on for a neighbor. I tack solders to the SMDs and pads. The unit was a modified one that stopped working. It had a PIC chip that did rapid fire of something. The mod was hot glued inside and sort of potted with the glue, but I got in it. Far as the stick, no idea on that.