75lechamp 

Well here's another build - I recently acquired a '75 Paramount, in Opaque Red. As it came to me, it was a little bit of a mess, with a few misses on the original parts, but with a few really cool parts included....

Here are the facts:

• Serial number D75 76, which indicates year 1975, month April, and the 76th frame built that month
• Original color and mostly (I think) original paint, Opaque Red. I decided to clean up the paint as much as possible to see how it looked. I'm not 100% convinced this is the original paint, but for now I am going to keep it as is. A lot of scrapes and so on, but no dings I could find. I may change my mind and have it repainted to another Paramount color, possibly Flamboyant Red...
• With regard to the decals, I have seen '75 Paramounts that have either the earlier decals, or the later decals. I prefer the earlier style, and have seen at least one '75 (date code G75 61) that has the older style. So, I re-decaled with the earlier style. It has the original unique to Schwinn 531 decal and the bands, which are crackly with age.
• The Campy dated parts are from 1973, which I have seen also on another '75 Paramount. The theory is the factory was working on a backlog at that point
• The bike came with the infamous "double drilled" large flange hubs
• Thanks to Kurt Kaminer's site, I finally figured out this is a P10-9 - it has the braze on top tube clips, the "Schwinn Approved" Weinmann center pulls, eyelets on the fork and dropouts. I also have a Kool Lemon '71 P13-9 and it's the same frame with the exception of Nervex lugs on this '75 vs the Prugnat lugs on the '71.

Headbadge in great condition. Since this is a P10-9, it came with Weinmann \"Schwinn Approved" center pulls...

After polishing and re-decal, looks fairly decent. This color is Opaque Red, which I think was introduced in 1974 ...

Re-decal...

Original 531 Schwinn-specific frame decal...

D75 76 - 76th frame made in April 1975...

Mostly original parts, with the coolest being the large flange campy hubs, which are the famous \"mistakes" double drilled.... Interesting, the Campy crankset and rear derailleur are dated 1973.... I saw this also on Bob Freeman's '75 Paramount, and I think the factory was working on a surplus of parts at that point...

More parts... I need to repair the front derailleur arm, as well as the pivot pins on the rear derailleur need repair or replacement ...

ehcoplex 

Ahhh, those chrome lugs!! It's going to be beautiful.

merziac

Go man go.

panzerwagon 

Beautiful! Those parts trays look like they're from the greatest model kit ever

thinktubes 

Even as a pile, it looks great!

Fairlane63

Look forward to updates and the final build.

Fahrenheit531 

Very cool.

Kabuki12

Fun!! I look forward to updates. Always nice to see these threads with the classics in the right hands.

smd4

What a beautiful frame. Can’t wait to see the final build.

75lechamp 

Well, I completed the Paramount today, and took it for a short spin...



Original "mistake" high flange Campys... with "Schwinn Approved 330" sewup rims...

Got some "Schwinn Approved" textured vinyl bar tape...

No Weinmann hoods available, but these Dia Compes work pretty well...


Old logo Cinelli 1A with old logo Giro d'Italia (model 64) bars... note the anodizing is worn off over time...

Although this is a '75, the components that are dated are from '73.... I think Schwinn was working on a backlog. The derailleur arrived bent and one pin broken, Jim Merz supplied me with a replacement he re-worked, thanks Jim!

"Schwinn Approved" Weinmanns, need to get some replacement Kool Stop pads...


Finished!

Fairlane63

Just lovely. So, how does it ride? I know the answer but would like to hear it anyway.

orcas island 

Gorgeous bike! I’m guessing it’s the correct size for you?

75lechamp 

Fairlane63 it's a fabulous ride, owing mostly to that long wheelbase. It's the touring model rather than the racing.

merziac

Oven cleaner could have been employed here, very carefully of course.

Great job, love it when this happens, especially with a Paramount.

beicster 

Did you have to do anything to those hoods to stretch them over the large barrel adjusters? I have very similar brakes that need new hoods and have not found any with that look designed to work with them.

75lechamp 

That is a really great question. Here is what worked for me:

1. Take off the clamp bands
2. Put the hoods in warm water and a soapy solution. Soap up the lever body.
3. Unscrew the gray plastic adjusters. There is still a male threaded end on the body, but far less length to go over
4. Slowly slide the hoods on, from the back
5. Once you get close to the threaded part on the front top of the lever body, stretch carefully to get over the threaded part
6. Once the hood is on, screw the gray plastic adjuster back on. Mine was a pretty tight fit, took a little maneuvering and persuasion.

Hope that helps!

Fairlane63

Good to hear! Knew the answer though, they knew what they were doing when they made those vintage Paramounts.