Classic & Vintage - Ready Set Go! I'm rebuilding my Centurion compTA

I'm Starting this new thread to follow my first rebuild. It is a Centurion compTA 1984. I will have pics available as I go along. The bike is now striped except the crank, which the bike shop is doing as we speak. I'll leave the finer things for the professionals. They are also placing new tires and tubes on the rims and ensuring the rim is "true". Excuse my terminology if i'm wrong, i'm still learning. I will refinish the frame myself, because I do have experience in that department. Back in 1990-91, I completed the auto body collision repair program at the local technical College and worked for the local auto dealership during school and three years post. I side lined the profession to become a Registered Nurse (more dependable income). Anyhow, back to the rebuild. I will get the frame back next week, because I'm leaving for vacation tomarrow (Gatlinberg, Tennessee) with the family. I will then strip the paint off via sand blasting or chemicals. I not quit sure how soft the metal frame is, therefore I will test a hidden spot with the blaster and go from there. I just left the local sign and decal shop to see if they can duplicate the original decals. We will only hope. If the decals can be made I will go back original color on the frame, which is silver. If not I may go with some crazy color scheme. The bike is dressed with the shimano 600 group components. Not to bad I guess, The bike shop did inspect all the parts and so far everything is a go. I will try to upload pics later this afternoon with some before shots. Any and all advise is welcomed. FYI, I'm Trying to keep a low budget project (within reason) on this first project and test run. Just keep in mind. Chat at ya'll later and come back for updates.

RookieOnTheSeat :D

As a newbie to the Forum, you may not have noticed yet...

mswantak does custom decal work. He may have some of what you need, and if it isn't in his library he will create the reproduction artwork at no additional cost.

The CompTA was a nice bike, but every time I saw the name I kept thinking about B.F. Goodrich Comp
T/A automobile tires. And they just won't fit in the frame.

:lol: That is pretty funny repechage.

The decal shop is less than 5 mile from my home and he allows me to see the decal before production to ensure correctness. But I do appreciate the advise. I'm open for all to give. Thanks

These are before pics and as I go along I will add pics during each phase of the rebuild.:D

Top tube cable guides are as you can see in the images, over rated. Looks like it spent time bolted to a turbo trainer or the like. I like this bike because it was before Centurion went "splatter" paint or "ink on water" paint crazy.

The CompTA was a nice bike, but every time I saw the name I kept thinking about B.F. Goodrich Comp
T/A automobile tires. And they just won't fit in the frame.

I keep thinking of a Raleigh Competition and TA cranksets...

-Kurt

cudak88,
I believe the centurion was the ancestor of the raleigh brand. Dont hold me to that! lol

Just a quick poll in color scheme:
A. Original
B. Candy red which blinds into white with black handle bar tape
C. All black
D. Electric blue with yellow and red flames with red handle bar tape
E. other (give your idea)

I've seen (and ridden) worse. Well worth the effort, as long as the top tube isn't pitted all the way through.
I'd keep the original paint scheme as well.
Top
(who ran Goodrich T/As on his Motion Inc. V-8 Vega conversion when he was a kid)

(who ran Goodrich T/As on his Motion Inc. V-8 Vega conversion when he was a kid)

The '65 -'69 Corvair V8 conversion was much better at surprising Porsches on Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles.

Keep the paint original, or go black, all black with gold graphics and gold lug lining, Think JPS Lotus Formula 1 cars from the late 70's...

I'm back from the smoky mountains tonight. It was great, in Cherokee it was bike weekend and in Pigeon Forge it was vintage and classic car weekend. "WOW".

I will pick up the frame tomarrow to start the over haul and the rims and new tires.

The CompTA was a nice bike, but every time I saw the name I kept thinking about B.F. Goodrich Comp
T/A automobile tires. And they just won't fit in the frame.
Your not far off. A tire company sued Centurion to drop the Comp T/A name. Only I thought it was Firestone.
There is another thread on Classic&Vintage dedicated to the Centurion. There was quite a bit of information about the Comp T/A. I used to own one of these, but I sold it because the frame was way too big for me. Tim Cuprey has it now.
Edit: If my memory is correct, T-Mar started the thread on Centurion.

I like the original color scheme, but only because that's what my 1984 Comp TA is.
Silver with the red steerer tube. I've seen the reverse, on this forum I think, with a silver steerer tube and
a metallic red main bike. That's pretty cool.

I lalso ike red and black, like a 70s Motobecane Grand Record.
Say red steerer
tube and lugs outlined in gold with a black main bike.
Just a thought.
I'm also partial to white bikes.
And green. A buddy of mine has a bike powdercoated in British Racing Green that looks awesome!

So I guess I'm being no help at all.

Whatever you do, please post pics as I may want to redo my Comp some time. I'd be especially interested in knowing where you get replacement decals.

It's interesting. Your frame doesn't have fender or rack eyelets. Neither does mine.
But the Comp TA shown in the 1984 Centurion catalog on Sheldon Brown's site does.
I don't think those made it onto the production bikes.