weekend update: looked at 2 possible metro hosts, and both were too rusty (incl the red $100 one). shame about the red one, because the body was good, but the rust around the control arm mount was too far advanced to repair.
some good news: persistence on the phone paid off with a local forklift service company. i finally talked to one of their service technicians who says they have a complete 48V used forklift that they'll sell for $500. this would be a great source for not only the motor (10hp continuous series wound), but for switches, fuses, contactor, controller, potbox, gauges...