Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Converting to "Fixie". Help please?

We have an old bike laying around, and my brother came up with the idea of "Fixing" it.

From what I can gather, I can leave the front wheel and both brakes alone, and just need to work on the rear wheel and other componentry. Since it needs a new rear wheel anyway (cracks and gaps right through the rim) what sort should I get? It isn't a flash or expensive bike, and it's steel and weighs a bit so weight isnt an issue, so doesn't really matter what type of wheel we get.

Also it has Shimano 105 Components, what bits can I keep and what do I need to change.

Anything else I need to consider?

BTW it is a 1992 Avanti Ultra, with Steel Frame.

Thanks.

Just get an inexspensive rim(Mavic Ma3) and lace it to a Suzue track hub that has been spaced to fit your frame. You can play with where the hub sits on the axle to get the chainline right. Then you just need a cog and lock ring. You can keep all the 105 stuff except for the hub and the big ring. You can even use the big ring if you have legs of steel.

We would mainly be using it for a bit of track riding or flat to gentle rolling hills, so a 52x17 or 19 might be the go.....using the big ring :D

Brendon

nah I want to get rid of that 52T chainring as it is one of those old elipse (sp) ones that arn't exactly round and i prefer the round ones. I might replace the BB aswell as the crank doesn't turn very freely.