vinfix

I've decided to switch from a 60 cm Vitus 979 to a new 58 cm Fuji Connoisseur. The Fuji comes with a 1" threaded fork & headset, and I bought a carbon seatpost & clamp to go with it. I'm hoping everything else- Campy BB, crank, DT shifters, front & rear derailleurs, wheels, brakes, chain, quill stem will fit with no trouble.

I'll need new cabling and maybe a few chain links, and the BB may be tricky if I can't get the drive side cup off or the new frame has to be chased.

Anything else I should watch out for? Am I missing anything?

bobbycorno

BB threads may not be compatible w/ the Fuji. Being French, the Vitus may have a French thread bb (35x1). The Fuji is almost certainly English thread (1.37x24). But the good news is that English BBs are a dime a dozen. And if the Vitus is English thread, no prob!

Oh, and if the Vitus has a French BB, the stem's probably French as well (22.0 vs the more common 22.2 mm. and yes, .2mm makes a difference - it'd be a VERY sloppy, clunky fit in a 22.2 steerer).

SP
Bend, OR

Chombi

Vitus 979 frame with the typical clamped seatpost usually a 25mm diameter seatpost. Which is smaller compared to most other brand bikes. More typical seatpost diameter would be 27.2. A 25mm is easy enough to find out there if you need one.
Not sure about 979s, but if you happen to have the later grub screw seatpost achorage system on your 979, you might have an even smaller 23mm diameter seatpost My vitus Carbone has that and I haven't seen any other road bike out there that has the same size, so it will be a challenge to find replacements. Hopefully that's not the case with your 979.

Chombi

Chombi

Someone did note that Vitus frames might have French BBs, specially the older ones, but most mid 80's and later versions seem to have english threaded BBs and non-French stem sizes. that's why a lot of Vitus 979 and Carbone frames sported DA7400 groups. I don't think Shimano made too much French threaded and sized components back then (if any?). Mostly JIS and English and maybe Italian.
You noted that your bike's a Fuji.
Now I'm thinking that you might encounter JIS threading on that bike. If so, the BB from the Vitus might not work.

Chombi

Grand Bois

He's switching parts to the Fuji from the Vitus and he already has a seatpost.

vinfix

My Vitus has a 25.0 seatpost with the grub screw, so I bought a new 27.2 carbon post to fit the Fuji. The Fuji has the typical old style seatpost clamp, which is a no-no with a carbon post unless it's got a flat like the Easton. But I bought a collar so I should be ok there.
The BB on the Vitus, IIRC when I built it, is Campy, English threaded, so I don't anticipate a problem. I'm considering going to a cartridge, definitely if there's a fit problem, but I'm hoping the Fuji is the same width so I don't have to change spindles.

Chombi

Good to hear that you have an English threaded BB on the Fuji afterall. Like you said, all you need to look into will be getting the right spindle legnth/BB width to match your cranks for a proper chainline.

Chombi

WNG

He's switching to a contemporary Fuji Connoisseur. Shouldn't be JIS anywhere. All parts from the Vitus should be compatible. Only caveat will the the brake calipers' mounting bolts. The 979 came supplied with specific wider flanged bolts to match the bridge at the rear, and sit flush in the aluminum fork. At least that's what Vitus recommended you use instead of the factory supplied ones on the calipers. If you no longer have the originals, you'll need to visit your LBS.

vinfix

I wouldn't have thought of this one! When I built the Vitus I just hung late model Super Record brakes, so no special bolts.

I'm probably going to take this to my LBS to do the cabling & anything I get stuck on.

Chombi

Funny you mentioned the Vitus rear caliper bolt. I can confrm that something is different with the Vitus brake bridge as I did run into something strange with them when building up my Carbone The brake bolts that came with my Spidel calipers were a little smaller in diameter than the rear brake bridge hole. Luckily I had some small diameter aluminum tubing that fit perfectly/exactly between the brake bridge hole and the Spidel brake bolt. Cut one to the exact legnth and slipped it in and everything works back there. Did not have any problems with the front though. The Spidel caliper fit in with the supplied hat shaped washers that came with the brakeset.
He might not have any problems with the calipers on the Fuji as long as he does not carry over any special pieces that made them work on the Vitus with the bigger brake bridge holes.

Chombi

miamijim

You'd surprised at what doesn't fit or presents a problem. I've swapped out hundreds of framesets and can't recall any not needing at least 1 change or adjustment.

RobbieTunes

Swap outs are where Murphy lurks...

There is no good generic advice.
You'll have to treat each swapped part individually, and deal with whatever comes up.
Each one that fits and works is a victory, each one that doesn't is your particular challenge at that moment.

That's just the way it is.

zandoval 

A Japanese bike with French accent... Some times misunderstood but worth the translation for a better ride...

One you get past the bottom bracket everything else is a piece of cake...

tborner

What's going on with that Vitus frame? if it needs a home...

rbrain

you probably have found this out, but here's what i would look out for... 1) you don't need a seatpost clamp/collar, since the fuji has a brazed on clamp; 2) do watch that the clamp binder bolt supplied with the frameset completely tightens (the one supplied with my fuji connoisseur was a tad too long, and the post slipped until i filed the binder bolt down a bit); 3) you may need new brakes, as the fuji takes longer reach brakes, esp. the front brake. Other than those small deals, the frame builds up easily and looks very nice.