Upgrade chat...

Rather than upgrading the VPI to Mk.4, look for a TNT-3/4 platter (7/8" lead-lined aluminum bottom, 3/8" Delrin top layer) or TNT-5 platter (5/8" stainless steel bottom, 7/8" Delrin top) and bearing.

The subchassis of the VPI has a 1" hole drilled for the platter bearing, and some of the TNT bearings are also of 1" diameter (others are 1.25"), so will slide right into place. Either choice under $500.

For the Grado/motor hum, there are shielding materials made than can be wrapped around the motor.

Remove the stock suspension springs, place a set of Townshend Seismic Pods under the subchassis (sitting on the shelf, not the HW-19 wooden outer base).

By the way, the HW-19 Jr,. and Mk.1 and Mk.2 had steel painted black subchassis, the Mk.3 and Mk.4 unpainted stainless steel. The Jr. and Mk.1 have a 1/2" layer of MDF on top of the steel, the Mk.2/3/4 1/2" acrylic.

There is a guy parting out an HW-19 right now (I don't remember where. A Hi-Fi Shark search should lead you to it), the base and subchassis separately. And on USAM there is an HW-19 upgraded with a TNT-5 platter and SAMA (Stand Alone Motor), asking price around $2200.

For a package a used SOTA Sapphire is hard to beat. Made in Delevan. Good people.

Buy a Linn sondek lp 12 and be done....a design that has stood the test of time, and it looks darn good too. 

Follow up. A different vpi unit was purchased that ultimately, unfortunately, did not work out. Moving forward, following advice from bdp24 and others, the super armboard was purchased. I was able to use herbies items to spacer the board correctly on the base. The bearing and platter from the previous armboard will be used. The next issue is the tonearm. The board is drilled for an sme tonearm. I have an audioquest pt-6. Should I seek, from vpi, the mount for the pt-6 or should I seek the sme 309 tonearm? From what I’ve read on the net, the 309 appears to fit this setup. The tonearm appears to sell anywhere from 1700 to 2100 usd. Is this tonearm worth that cost? Or should the board be purchased from vpi to mount the pt-6? Other tonearm ideas are invited and welcome.