Classic & Vintage - Peugeot French BB conversion to English

Hi all, I picked up a 70s Peugeot recently for pennies and I would like to convert it from a french to english bb. I'm not sure where to start and was wondering if anyone had any advise or suggestions on how to go about this. I've search and have found several different answers on other sites and not sure what is right or not. Thanks

It would take someone with a drill press or, better, a vertical mill to bore out the BB shell to the correct size and cut all new threads. English is considerably bigger than the thread root size of the French BB. This is doable, and has been done, but you'd be far, far ahead buying a Velo-Orange French-thread BB and installing that.

Why to english? Why not to Italian? Both right hand threading the Italian just a bit bigger. So, you have to use a 1mm spacer on each side, big deal.

Ja, this. I had a Diamant that was Italian on the nds and French on the drive side due to some previous problem.


Why to english? Why not to Italian? Both right hand threading the Italian just a bit bigger. So, you have to use a 1mm spacer on each side, big deal.

Why do you want to change it at all? Are the cups shot? Here's an alternative. (http://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Bracket-FRENCH-2xRIGHT-RETAINER/dp/B003ZKOOMC)

you'd be far, far ahead buying a Velo-Orange French-thread BB and installing that.
What he said. Why change it? A good, properly installed French BB will do fine.

Why do you want to change it at all? Are the cups shot? Here's an alternative. (http://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Bracket-FRENCH-2xRIGHT-RETAINER/dp/B003ZKOOMC)

I don't want to run cotter cranks.

So buy a square-taper Stronglight axle on ebay for 10 dollars. Square taper will let you run Suginos to Stronglights and maybe Campys if they're older and you're lucky and chosen wisely. Square taper was the performance standard for years and years. I'm not entirely convinced Ocatalink/Gigapipe is an improvement.

No one said it was going to be easy. If it were easy, it'd be my roommate's mom.

So buy a square-taper Stronglight axle on ebay for 10 dollars. Square taper will let you run Suginos to Stronglights and maybe Campys if they're older and you're lucky and chosen wisely. Square taper was the performance standard for years and years. I'm not entirely convinced Ocatalink/Gigapipe is an improvement.

No one said it was going to be easy. If it were easy, it'd be my roommate's mom.

So a square-taper Stronglight axle will fit in my french bb and be able to run a square taper crank? Thats all I really want, idk why I thought I had to have a english bb :crash:

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/530x530/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/o/vo-french-thread-bb.jpg

Grand Cru Bottom Bracket, French Thread
The French thread Grand Cru bottom brackets have oversize sealed bearings. The axles are hollow and made from boron steel.
Both cups are aluminum alloy. The bearing are well sealed against dust, mud, and moisture with 4 wiper seals at the bearings
and 2 full contact grit shields at the cups.

About 258gm in 110mm. JIS taper. Includes axle bolts.

Grand Cru BB are available in spindle lengths to fit most cranks. Generally, it is the crank model, not the frame,
that determines spindle length. So, check what spindle length the crank manufacturer recommends or measure you old BB.
If between sizes, it's usually wise to choose the longer.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/grand-cru-bottom-brackets-hollow-axle-alloy-cups-26.html

I think you can find them even cheaper on e-bay (same product).

Edit:just looked and the e-bay price appears to be the same.....so go with Velo Orange if you do this.