Bicycle Mechanics - Centurion frame restoration. (photo warning!)

I posted this over in "Classic and Vintage" but I'll try here as well.

I acquired a 1984 Centurion frame this last weekend, and I want to restore it. It appears, and I hope I'm right, that the rust is only "surface" rust, and can be removed. I'm looking for advice on best practice to refurbish this frame.

I'm also looking for some opinions on the shape of things to come...i.e:

1) Single speed/fixed gear? Should be easy with those semi-horizontal dropouts.
2) Internal hub? Don't know if that will fit the 126mm spacing...but it would be cool.
3) 7 speed hub? Don't know if anyone even makes those...

Thoughts are appreciated.

Cheers!

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/BanzaiF16/Frame.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/BanzaiF16/TopTube.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/BanzaiF16/DownTube.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/BanzaiF16/RearDerailleur.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/BanzaiF16/Crank.jpg

How about simple...my increasingly complex questions here get steadily fewer responses as the years go by.

Powdercoat or liquid paint?

Discuss.

Looks like a keeper to me.:) I like Centurions a lot, I've got an '85 Accordo and an '83 Pro Tour. Both of them, in their own way, are really nice bikes. At some point, I hope to do some touring on the Pro Tour. The Pro Tour is so nice, so much of what I think the ideal bicycle ought to be, I sometimes just sit and stare at it. :D

As for the rust on your frame, the worst of it looks like it was caused by the previous owner sweating onto the top tube. If you're just going to do a rattlecan job on it, I'd sand all the rust completely off of course, making sure to feather the edges smooth to where you can't tell where bare metal meets old paint when you run your hand over it. Then use a liquid deglosser (aka liquid sander) on all surfaces to completely remove anything that would keep the primer from sticking. Next, prime the entire frame and fork with automotive primer. Once that's dry, lightly sand the primer to knock it down some, wipe that clean and you're ready for color coat. Duplicolor brand paints are good for this, and they also have clear coat to go over the color to finish things up. It's available at auto parts stores........One thing, though; as pretty as that headtube/headlug area is with the two colors of paint, you might want to preserve that. Good luck!-

You may have already seen this, but here's a page from the '84 Centurion catalog showing your bike (from Sheldon's site):

http://sheldonbrown.com/centurion1984/pages/08elite-rs.html

I <3 Centurions. I ride an 80-something LeMans RS to work every day. Unfortunately I have no restoration advice, as I bought mine already restored :)

What does the sticker near the top of the seat tube say?

edit: I run a 6-speed freewheel on mine. You may want to measure the bolt circle diameter of your cranks, if they're original - mine are hard to find chainrings for.

hey i just found a similar era Centurion Turbo down the road.
fixed her up a bit and she goes alright. Fixed gear though and no paint job

My take:
1. Soak in oxalic acid. Rust treat internally. Blast. Powdercoat
2. Since you have all the drivetrain - restore as geared. stick a 7 speed freewheel on it.

1. I'm starting to warm to the idea of sending this frame out to be blasted and powdercoated. I've heard good things about Spectrum Powder Works, in spite of reading one very long thread on this board about a botched job.

2. Very appealing. I'm also however considering a Nexus 7. I understand those come in 126 spacing. And Mr. Brown has stated that spacers on a Nexus 8 can be removed to make it comfortably fit a 126 spaced frame as well. The semi-horizontal dropouts of this frame make that seem like an appealing option to me.