Bicycle Mechanics - Self-Installation/Pricing on Old Bike

I plan on buying a new frame and building it up. From what I have gathered from my readings is that the two trickiest parts of building up a frame are

-Installing the Headset
-Installing the bottom bracket.

Luckily, the University I work at has a "bike shop" that allows you to come in and use their tools and hence I will be able to build up the majority of my bike there on my own.

Would it be in my best interest to have an LBS install the two tricky items listed above and do the rest on my own? Is there anything else you all would recommend that I have them do as well if that is the case? I should note that I am not awesome mechanics-wise, but have built up a single-speed on my own and so have -some- experience.

Also, to fund some upgrades to my new bike, I plan on selling my old bike. Where would be a good place for me to get an idea on pricing?

Thanks for all your help!

Go to Classic and Vintage and there is a valuation thread.

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=273

I have never installed a headset, but have replaced several bottom brackets. With the right tools, bottom brackets are pretty basic.

I have never installed a headset, but have replaced several bottom brackets. With the right tools, bottom brackets are pretty basic.



+1
I get my friends or the shop (both have a headset press) to press in my headset - Everything else is easy.
just use a torque wrench

The results of not pressing in the headset cups and race are bad. Same for the fixed cup of a bottom bracket. The most you will spend is about $20 having this done, and even though I've done both of these jobs many times, I usually pay to have it done. They are just about the only jobs I choose not to buy the tools for.

Both are pretty straightforward, given the right tools (for the bottom bracket) or a good facsimile (for the headset).

For pricing, there's no better tutor than Craigslist. See what bikes similar to yours are getting.

If the University's shop has the proper tools, doing a headset and bottom bracket really are not very hard. Without those tools I would pay the LBS to do it. I had an old Fuji mountain bike (a freebie that needed more work than any other bike that has passed through my hands) and I ended up putting in a cartridge bottom bracket and a new Tange Levin headset. Using the bike coop's tools it was easy as pie.

I've never done either of those myself for the same reason. Both need to have the faces perfectly square with the shell. If it is a used bike, and hopefully gently used, it should already be square, but I would still take it to a shop.

I think all of the fuss about facing is overdone. I've installed tons of headsets and bottom brackets. Really the only issue with facing is the first time you do it on a new frame.