J.Higgins 

Its always nice to see the resurrection of an old bike. There's just something satisfying about it, whether its yours or someone else's.

Murray Missile 

Head tube ID measurement converts to 33.93mm, original headset measures 33.2 to 33.4 O.D, the 1-1/8" headset measurement converts to 34mm OD. I'm guessing these bikes kind of got "thrown" together with whatever was close enough, cheapest or whatever they had the most of. Whatever they intended it to be it measures the same as an 1-1/8" so that's what I'm using, I'm going threadless though.

Murray Missile 

1-1/8" threadless headset came today. Bearing cups are in and fit like a glove. Fork should be here tomorrow.

Murray Missile 

Finally got a fair amount done on it today, had to make some "on the fly" changes. The U-brake for the rear would only reach the rim if I mounted it under the seat stays and that created all kinds of problems trying to get a cable stop that would line up properly so I went back to a caliper brake on the rear. Right now it's looking more Klunker than Cruiser with the knobby rear tire, the knobbies were on the other wheel set I'm going to use. I just set the wheel in to line the brakes up ahough I may leave them on to see how it rides versus the cruiser tires, pretty sure the cruisers are going back on though.

Murray Missile 

Had to make some more changes. A 116 link chain was a link short with the 52t big ring crankset shown and the chainline was less than optimal. Swapped the BB to one that was offset more toward the frame on the drive side and a different crankset with a 48t big ring. Chain is now the perfect length with no changes and the chainline is dead on. Time to pull the rear derailleur back off and give it a good cleaning and oiling and service the hubs. Once that's done I will do the final assembly. I have 2 other projects going on at the same time.

Rollfast

They'll appreciate that comfort seat over time...I just bought two old Troxels of my favorite style, the OEM that was on my 1995 Schwinn was very nice.


And I've seen a few Cruisers stripped down to klunkers but never built UP like that. I'm liking it!

Murray Missile 

Thanks guys! I'm not really sure what to call it any more. It's not really a Klunker but I can't really say it's a Cruiser either. The only thing I can say for sure is that I'm having a blast and I think it's going to be a real conversation starter. I just hope it rides as it nicely as it did in the last version, should ride better but you never know. Won't get much done on it for the next week or so as we had a blast of Winter air move back in and I don't have heat in the garage. My old bones can't take working in the cold very long these days.

Philphine

maybe like the bicycle version of an adventure bike. i've kinda been thinking of coming from the opposite direction with a 29er mountain bike i picked up. maybe making it a little more "cruiser-ish" and calling it my pedal adventure bike.

base2 

VP-H755 BMX bicycle headset - 1" threaded 32.5mm cups 26.4mm crown race CHROME
I'd take anything over a Wald 4080. I have one on another bike, & though it works it's pretty much garbage. Take the Victor. Hands-down it's the better option. And the chrome is better too. I did have to ream out the top nut due to the choosing a modern 1 inch threaded fork as opposed to the vintage Schwinn 1 inch threaded, but that was on me, & it was easy enough to do. The other issue was the headtube was a touch large, so I pressed in the cups with some 0.002 shim stock & some epoxy in the interface between the shim & the head tube. The cups can now be pressed in & out leaving the shim. Should I ever need to replace the headset, I'm sure my work will be appreciated. No other issues otherwise & I'd highly recommend it over the Wald any day of the week.

Your project looks good.

Murray Missile 

Sounds cool, look forward to seeing it. I have a couple other projects going besides this one. Both are Hybrids but one of them has a Rock Shox MTB fork, 29er wheels & 2 inch wide "city" tires with 180mm front/160mm rear mechanical disc brakes. A Hybrid on steroids if you will and it's only been 4-1/2 years in the making! I'd have just about all the parts and then rob some of them for something else and start over but it's pretty much all together now, I just have to run cables, put the chain on and wrap up some minor details and it will be ready for a shakedown ride.

Murray Missile 

It is alive!!!!!!

Not totally finished but I took it for about a 3 mile ride and it rides great. The knobbies are a drag though, I'll probably put the cruiser tires back on it. I'm going to put the Brooks B67 on it tomorrow and do some fine tuning, may change tires too.

J.Higgins 

Well played.

Murray Missile 

Brooks B67 and different stem........... rides even better. Still undecided on the tires.

Rollfast

I like the traction I get from knobbies, with some snow that helps too.

Murray Missile 

No pictures yet but it's changed again. The Brooks came off, I put a set of flat bars on it and the cruiser tires went back on. The bars are a tad low but much better than what was on it. Looking more cruiser like again.

J.Higgins 

Can't wait! Pics!

Murray Missile 

Be careful what you ask for LOL! Swapped saddles yet again, think this one's a keeper. Rides great. Still not 100% sure on the bars so I haven't trimmed the cables yet. I have to admit it is an odd duck but I've had a blast building it.

Murray Missile 

WHOA!!!! Just noticed the chain slack! What the heck? Headed out to the garage to check it out.......... OK, rear dropouts are kind of flexible and the rear shifter does not have a positive stop in first gear. Must have forced the shifter when I was drying it off and it flexed the dropout and hanger enough to let the chain go past the cog for 1st and the chain dropped in behind it. If I turn the derailleur stop in anymore it won't engage the cog. Looks like this one's getting a dork disc.............

J.Higgins 

That bike is pure fusion. I love it!