1978 Colnago Super Build
04-09-18, 03:15 PM
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1978 Colnago Super Build
I was fortunate enough to snap up PeregrineA1’s 1978 Colnago Super, and it arrived very well packaged and perfectly in time for the long Easter weekend. Here’s what arrived:
It was a nice surprise to find that the seat post wasn’t stuck as advertised, however the stem was well and truly in there. After cleaning around the stem and fork join as much as I could I scored around the join with a sharp knife to try let some PB blaster seep in (not sure if that helped but made me feel like I was doing something!) then left it for 24hrs or so. A bit of wiggling and jigging the following day and a pretty rusted stem came free.
I then set to work on paint. Thankfully what I thought was gravel rash down both sides turned out to be white paint.
So most of Saturday afternoon was spent removing this with the aid of WD40 and my thumb nails! There was also a lot of sticker residue that got the same treatment. But I was pleased with the result:
I then cleaned out the rust from inside the frame by attaching wire wool to a straightened coat hanger and giving it a good rodding. Once that was clean I swapped to wire wool for a grease soaked rag and ran that through a few times. That process yielded a number of dead spiders, and some old styrofoam pellets.
It was then a case of rebuilding the frame. While I would have loved to go period correct Campy SR I had to go with what I had to spare, so it’s a mix of NR and SR. I kept the original Colnago headset, and the Cinelli stem to which I added some old Cinelli bars. I swapped out the Avocet seat post for Campy and kept the original Supercorsa saddle after a bit of a clean:
All I was missing was the FD, but CO_Hoya has kindly agreed to trade my braze on for his matching clamp on. Then its just the hoods and bar tape and I'm done.
It was a nice surprise to find that the seat post wasn’t stuck as advertised, however the stem was well and truly in there. After cleaning around the stem and fork join as much as I could I scored around the join with a sharp knife to try let some PB blaster seep in (not sure if that helped but made me feel like I was doing something!) then left it for 24hrs or so. A bit of wiggling and jigging the following day and a pretty rusted stem came free.
I then set to work on paint. Thankfully what I thought was gravel rash down both sides turned out to be white paint.
So most of Saturday afternoon was spent removing this with the aid of WD40 and my thumb nails! There was also a lot of sticker residue that got the same treatment. But I was pleased with the result:
I then cleaned out the rust from inside the frame by attaching wire wool to a straightened coat hanger and giving it a good rodding. Once that was clean I swapped to wire wool for a grease soaked rag and ran that through a few times. That process yielded a number of dead spiders, and some old styrofoam pellets.
It was then a case of rebuilding the frame. While I would have loved to go period correct Campy SR I had to go with what I had to spare, so it’s a mix of NR and SR. I kept the original Colnago headset, and the Cinelli stem to which I added some old Cinelli bars. I swapped out the Avocet seat post for Campy and kept the original Supercorsa saddle after a bit of a clean:
All I was missing was the FD, but CO_Hoya has kindly agreed to trade my braze on for his matching clamp on. Then its just the hoods and bar tape and I'm done.
Last edited by frndlyfire; 04-15-18 at 02:29 PM.
04-09-18, 03:53 PM
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Very nice!
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04-09-18, 04:04 PM
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Very nice indeed. I wish it was a tad smaller or else i would've purchased it for myself.
Kudos to @PeregrineA1 for the packing job to get it safely to frndlyfire
Kudos to @PeregrineA1 for the packing job to get it safely to frndlyfire
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04-09-18, 05:37 PM
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Excellent to see her in rolling form.
04-09-18, 05:45 PM
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Nice! That was quick work! do you plan to treat the rust spots on the top tube or just wax and ride?
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04-09-18, 06:41 PM
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How's the ride? I am very much enjoying my '76 Colnago that is finally getting some miles in this spring.
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04-09-18, 06:50 PM
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Lookin' good!
Nice that you caught a few breaks with the issues. PB blaster worked great on a stuck Bianchi stem.
Nice that you caught a few breaks with the issues. PB blaster worked great on a stuck Bianchi stem.
04-09-18, 07:41 PM
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Once I get final piece of puzzle I will let you know. It’s due tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll have chance to finish it this weekend. And, if it ever stops snowing in Chicago, I might actually get a ride in!
04-10-18, 01:50 AM
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I love Colnago's that look like they have been well used. Then again. I like them all nice and shiny too. I just like Colnago's.
Your choice of components only helps to give me that warm and fuzzy feeling - haha. Love it.
Your choice of components only helps to give me that warm and fuzzy feeling - haha. Love it.
04-10-18, 06:17 AM
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Nice build, must be all the Colnago pollen in the air this spring, what with the number of build thread for them popping up here. And that is a good thing.....
Bill
Bill
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04-10-18, 01:24 PM
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So this is what we missed out on over in the FSOT thread - looks great! Glad the post and stem came out with little effort and that this beauty will see the road again soon 
DD
DD
04-15-18, 02:35 PM
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I managed to get some time in the garage this weekend to finish up this beauty:
A big thank you to everyone here who helped out with parts and advice.
Now, if it ever stops snowing in Chicago I might be able to take her for a spin!
A big thank you to everyone here who helped out with parts and advice.
Now, if it ever stops snowing in Chicago I might be able to take her for a spin!
04-15-18, 04:00 PM
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Congrats! Kinda wish I had an older one but I am happy with my "83! Love the Patina!
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04-15-18, 04:35 PM
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I agree fully with SJX426's sentiments.
04-15-18, 05:14 PM
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Bike looks fantastic; bravo!!!
But!
Please find some ferrules for the ends of the brake and rear derailleur cable housings. When the snow clears you'll probably find your shifting a bit wonky if you keep it the way it is. Braking performance likewise will be compromised a bit without ferrules, too.
DD
But!
Please find some ferrules for the ends of the brake and rear derailleur cable housings. When the snow clears you'll probably find your shifting a bit wonky if you keep it the way it is. Braking performance likewise will be compromised a bit without ferrules, too.
DD
Last edited by Drillium Dude; 04-15-18 at 05:25 PM.
04-15-18, 06:42 PM
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Cheers, Dude. I actually found my bag of ferrels as I was tidying up.
Love the attention to detail though, and pleased that’s the only thing that’s been picked up on (so far) as this is only my second full build.
Love the attention to detail though, and pleased that’s the only thing that’s been picked up on (so far) as this is only my second full build.
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