Utility Cycling - Cheap DH bike as a Big DUmmy donor?

I'm starting to get excited reading about people's Big Dummy build ideas. I have yet another...

I'd like to source an inexpensive "entry level" downhill bike to use as a parts donor for my Big Dummy build.

I have a metric tonne of bike parts laying around, but the BD is special and I think it deserves special attention.

What I am thinking is that first and foremost, I want strong wheels. I don't think anyone is building up a BD with thoughts of weight savings especially in the wheel department. I'd also like disc brakes. The drivetrain I am very unparticular about, but I'll probably end up going with SRAM since my commuter's X7 setup has been sweet as honey for the last few years. Though I am also toying with the idea of barcons on nice swept back C bars. I am also considering 2x8 or 3x8 using old school XT thumbshifters.

Anyway, the thing is, once you start talking about brakes, wheels and even the BB and crank, you are easily getting into the $500 range. I'm wondering if it would not be wise to get a 5 or 6 hundred dollar entry level DH bike to snag some strong wheels, brakes, bb and crank off of? Or maybe I am dreaming at that price point? I could then put some mediocre parts onto the stripped frame and sell it as a cheap commuter for $100 on craigslist. Or use it as a loaner for visiting friends or something.

Anyway I'm looking for some tips about where to start my search... I've never been in the market for downhill style parts or bikes before. Is anyone aware of any reasonably priced bikes with nice strong wheels and avid mechanical discs? Those would be my number one requirements :-)

edit to add--
somethig like this perhaps: http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/163179/

I think you could find a Specialized P2 for reasonable if you look around. You didn't give an upper price limit, but I've seen new ones for $800. Used ones go for half that, and you could E-bay the frame and fork.

I'm thinking about building up a Big Dummy this summer, and a donor bike does sound like one of the cheaper and easier options. How about a bike like this (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_trail08.htm)? Search bikesdirect's MTB page for "avid" to find a few options.

Any incompatibilities to worry about? How's the crank and wheelset on that one?

Cool, thanks for the tips I'll check them out... though I did see these rims on nashbar which could help me build some strong wheels for pretty cheap:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000113&subcategory=60001128&brand=&sku=18391&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Rims%2FSpokes%2FNipples

After looking at several options, I think that one of these is the best ways to get a basic build kit for the Big Dummy:

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/16578-120_SRASX7_KIT-3-Parts-135-Build-Kits/Sram-SX5-Build-Kit.htm
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/15351-120_SRA7B6_KIT-3-Parts-135-Build-Kits/Sram-X.7-Disc-Build-Kit.htm

I think I'll go for the X.7 kit so I don't have to buy a BB7 or two separately.

I emailed them to ask if a bottom bracket is included, no answer yet.

edit: BB included, and it fits both 68mm and 73mm sizes.

The X7 is definitely worth the upgrade over the X5.. and as far as shifters go, I'd go as far as X.9 to get the zero latency feature or whatever they are calling it.. but that's only if I was buying the shifters alone I think.

I saw those build kits and they look good, but I'm wary of the wheels. I think I'm going to get a set hand built based on those mammoth rims and XT hubs.

Man, now that I'm adding all this up it would still be cheaper to get that build kit AND a separate set of wheels built. Maybe I'll grab this kit and just get a rear wheel built up... and have a spare rear wheel for my trail bike. Hmmmm....

I saw those build kits and they look good, but I'm wary of the wheels.
The wheels are Sun Rhyno Lite / Deore Disc, which are the same ones xtracycle sells in their bomber wheels kit. 36h would be nice instead of 32h, but I think they should be plenty strong.

http://www.xtracycle.com/images/images_big/big_dummy.jpg

Xtracycle is offering a Big Dummy complete bike for $1800 (http://www.xtracycle.com/dummy-longtail-from-surly-p-122.html). You get a purpose built Big Dummy and the Xtracycle bits you need to start hauling cargo.

Another option to consider.

http://www.xtracycle.com/images/bd_slant_med.jpg

Yeah that's a nice build.. my frame is already en route though :-)))))

The full bike is close what I'm going to build: $900 frame + $550 pricepoint build kit + $240 longtail kit + $50 for city tires + $90 Brooks B17 = $1830. Subtract some for selling the tires and seat in the build kit. And I'm not a fan of grip shifters or C bars.

edit: though I'll probably buy the longtail kit piecewise and make my own snapdeck for $230 or so. Add wideloaders for $90 more and make my own longloader if I need one.

Hey, what's in the longtail kit do you know?

Hey, what's in the longtail kit do you know?

http://www.xtracycle.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=126

Sweet, thanks I didn't see that. I had been watching their "kit" page for a while... I see they have a hauler kit now too. Sweet!