Bicycle Mechanics - Converting from campagnolo 8 speed to 7 speed?

Heres my situation... I have a set of campy wheels with an 8 speed cassette. I just bought a late 80's road frame with 7 speed campy athena. I'm basically looking for a way to make it work. Is the spacing between cogs the same between 7 and 8? Any help is appreciated. I haven't got the frame yet, but I want to get everything in order before it gets here.

Looking at the Sheldon Brown page (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-spacing.html), which doesn't actually mention Campy 7spd spacing, it seems there's a good chance it's the same 5mm spacing.

A quick and dirty way to confirm it (if you don't have verniers) would be to put the two rear wheels together (minus skewers) with the cogs against each other. If you don't have the 7spd wheel, you could just stick the 8spd wheel in the frame and with the chain out of the way, just eye it up.

Or just chuck it on the bike and take it for a ride; suck it and see.

Dunno how you'd get it sussed beforehand without access to a Campy 7spd cassette (freewheel?), if the specs aren't forthcoming...

The 7 speed Athena is probably friction, not index. So the 8 speed wheels will work.

O_o

Did it take Campag's collaboration with Sachs to get em on the indexed bandwagon?

Tullio would turn in his grave.

Heres my situation... I have a set of campy wheels with an 8 speed cassette. I just bought a late 80's road frame with 7 speed campy athena. I'm basically looking for a way to make it work. Is the spacing between cogs the same between 7 and 8? Any help is appreciated. I haven't got the frame yet, but I want to get everything in order before it gets here.

What's the spacing of the 8 sp wheels? 130mm ?
Spacing if the 80's frame w/7sp likely = 126mm.

Buy yourself some digital calipers http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JFMIO/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000GSLKIW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0PX9ST46SB6ZCRETW1FN. It makes life a whole lot easier. If the spacing of the cogs is the same, then just have your frame cold set to 130mm and use your 8sp wheels.

It is friction. Also I'm unsure of the rear wheel spacing until I get the frame, but I'll definitely check that as soon as it gets here. Thanks everyone for the help. Worst case I just may find a set of 7 spd wheels, but I've got a set of vento's collecting dust right now, so I really want to use them!

I your frame is made of steel or aluminum you shouldn't have a problem putting that wheel on the frame at all. As somebody mentioned, your bike should have the old friction downtube shifter, you can put any wheel in there w/o any mayor issues. If you are using an indexed type of downtube shifter then u have a problem because the indexing wont fix at all, in that case just change the operating mode of the shifter to friction and you are all set.

I dont remember any DT shifter that was only indexed. But that doesnt mean there is none.

Thanks

I use 8 Speed Ergos with 7 Speed freewheels, and it indexes just fine.