L134 

Geometry from what I think is an 81 catalogue:



Cable guide on my 83 (also with serial number on BB shell):

SwimmerMike 

Thanks @L134. Based on the table and my ability to measure fork rake, I think the Fork is pretty close. I measured 4.3cm and it should be 4.2cm. I'm sure my measurement technique is not accurate enough to know if there is a minor discrepancy (and thus a re-rake would make the replacement match better. But I do think it's accurate enough to say it's not wildly off. I was also able to check some other measurements since my frame is a 58.

Also I appreciate the picture of the cable guides. If I go that direction (vs cleaning up the through tube, its good to know if I have a reasonable match).

Mike

SwimmerMike 

Thanks @Drillium_Dude. There are few threads on Bianchi's of this age, I hadn't come across your thread (just some of the pictures in different threads). I just did a quick scan of the thread. I would have liked to find one as nice as yours was when you got it. Mine will create a lot of challenges, and take a lot more time in parts sourcing (unless my Colnago decides to lend the Bianchi some parts), but it'll be fun getting it there. I'll be referring to your build thread a lot over the next few months I'm sure. You have set the bar I need to shoot for.

Mike

repechage

Seat lug on the OP's bike is sure different, and might have been chrome initially.
Oddball paint also points respray.

SwimmerMike 

@repechage - I've stripped some of the paint. Yes, the top of the seat stays are chromed, the one side I stripped polished up great. So definitely a re-spray. Which is great because it gets rid of the how much patina is too much question. Once I address the top tube brake cable routing problem (embrace and fix the current through tube to be more elegant or get the holes patched and add back the top tube cable guides) I'll finish the stripping and move on to getting it cleaned up.

SwimmerMike 

A couple additional pictures of what I've uncovered.

The through top tube cable routing was just 2 holes drilled in the top tube. I'm taking the frame into a local frame builder to see what is the best next step. I'll either have him plug the holes and put back on the cable guides, or modify the through tube to be done correctly.

I was also able to strip some of the paint and found some areas where the chrome was in great shape.

SwimmerMike 

To the advice that is stated in various posts when someone gets a new bike that requires a lot of work. I wanted to build it up a ride it before I sunk too much effort into it. 4 rides and about 90 miles on it so far.

I did a full strip and re-build last weekend. Seat post and stem came out, headset was in great shape. Bottom Bracket was completely shot. Fixed cup was.a nightmare, but 4 days of WD 40 then PB Blaster, and a few choice words it was out.

Cleaned up (not fully, but a de-grease and some scrubbing) of the parts I put back on.

Obtained a Campy BB and shifter cables

From the part bin -

Period correct cock pit
NR RD
Freshly waxed chain
Seat Post and Seat
Campy rear Brake and Modello front
Speedplay pedals

Spare clinchers for my Colnago Super, with a straight block (14-19) - With a 53-44 up front, I do need to change up the freewheel.

And before anybody asks, yes that is a zip-tie for the rear brake cable. I used the Kludge through-tube and it was really bad, so I did a quick kludge of my own. And yes, the yellow bar-tape has to go.

SwimmerMike 

I got out the touch up paint and put in a little elbow grease.... Well maybe a bit more than just that. Still a couple of little things to do in the future, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Narhay

That is an amazing transformation.

genejockey 

Oooooo!!! That looks great! Looking forward to seeing it in March!!

merziac

Way to drop it on us.

Looks good, nice touch up.

Cable guides on the bottom?

Did you just have a spare Super fork laying around?

SwimmerMike 

Thanks @Narhay and @genejockey.


@merziac - Thanks. Sourcing the fork was my biggest concern. I figured I might need to identify a donor frame with the right fork than make a choice between the two frames and I thought it might take years. By luck, I picked up the fork from @cap'njohnny. He had posted that he built up a Bianchi for the Silicon Valley Bike Exchange, but the fork was beyond repair. So, since I try not to let things like "beyond repair" deter me so I reached out to him, he was able to find it, I picked it up and took it straight to a frame builder, Dale Saso. Dale had just patched the holes and added the brake cable guides (to the lower left side) on the frame and thought there was a good chance he could save it. We were both very pleased on how the fork turned out, the alignment and rake were spot on and the chrome wasn't damaged.

shoota 

Is that the same bike?!?

merziac

Yep, amazing, you know, with a little touch up and elbow grease, expert framebuilder help and and castoff correct fork resurrected from the road to ruin.

SwimmerMike 

@merziac, OK, so maybe I played down the work required to transform this. It was nice to stumble on a grail bike that looked beyond hope and have it come together. I'll do a build thread on it with more pictures.

cinelliguy 

We have the painful before images and it would be cool to see the process and final build details, images please! Fun.

merziac

All good man, great job, I have two of those complete bikes, they are both in ok shape but really could warrant a similar program like yours being what they are. It would almost be easier if you pretty much have no choice like you. Once you commit and with a "little" help and luck go all in, then there you are, no big picture ongoing hand wringing, waffling, second guessing, whatever. Just a matter of getting after it and making it so, easy peasy.

Build thread would be fabulous.

SwimmerMike 

You are right. The fact that this was a basket case got rid of a lot of debating and gave me a clean slate to just dive in. There was no debate around "how much patina is too much?"; I also figured it wasn't original, so adding the second water bottle cage wasn't going to be blasphemous, etc. I figured everything I did would be a step in the right direction, even if it was a direction others wouldn't choose, it would still be better than what I started with.

I'll get the build thread going over the next few days (I hope).

merziac

Right on, most excellent.

BFisher

Sweet transformation! How fantastic that you were able to sort out the fork situation like that.

What did you use for touch-up?

SwimmerMike 

The term touchup, was used tongue in cheek, it was a full rattle-can respray. I used a custom mixed color (RAL 6027) paint I procured from a company in Austin (I believe) and followed it up with Glamour 2K clear.

BFisher

Glad I'm not losing it. I kept thinking there's no way that's just a touch up job, but then wondering if my own mediocre skills are actually just horrendous.

Really nice results.

merziac

Nah, way more to the story, serious expert framebuilder repair help, copious amounts of luck, time, $$$, mad rattle can painting skilz, energy and effort.

Drillium Dude 

Awesome job - I really like the setup with the rear brake housing guides being brazed underneath the top tube. Make it your own

DD

SwimmerMike 

I was going to create a new build thread and then decided just to add to this thread. It eliminated having to go back to the beginning.

The first problem to tackle was the holes in the frame for the kludged together through top-tube brake cable.

I talked to a couple of local frame builders and some local C&V BF guys and decided on Dale Saso to do the work. While he was at it, I also had him put on some new cable guides and a second set of water bottle bosses. Since it's not longer original, I decided to have the cable guides on the NDS to allow for clean routing if I ever go to a brighter set-up. I also think it's a cleaner look.