Converting paramount for hill rides
 

Having discovered my 'cheap out' (the polyvlant crankset offered at Velo Orange) would require more retrofitting than I have the desire or pocketbook for, I need some info on what shimano offered in their early SIS setups.
The bike is a 1991 Paramount OS
I'm running a 34/46 on the front and probably need a 13-30 or 13-32 (from harris Cyclery)
The oem 7spd sis downtube died a while back and I got a rs100 nos 8spd which would allow a buildup of a 8spd (oem is 7)wheel.
I want to keep the SIS setup but am going to need a derailleur capable of handling a 30 or 32t. large cog.
Sence I'm going to be going on a NOS hunt for something that'll work and yet offer decently crisp shifts I figured I'd get some opinions on what to be looking for.
Thanks
:)

Please post pics of your bike! I just traded for a 1990 Paramount OS. I'm going to build mine up with Shimano 8s STI 600 (64xx) components.

I don't quite follow. Which shifters do you have? And you will be buying a different freewheel AND a different RD?

I'm in a similar situation, I recently replaced the original dura ace standard 53/39 crank with a sugino 48/34 alpina compact crank (on my '89 paramount OS). It has 8 speed sti, and the rear derailleur is maxed out at 26t. So far it has been better on the hills around here, but I haven't been up to the NC mountains yet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jvpro/001-28.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jvpro/003-19.jpg

I am rebuilding from a 1973 Paramount frame and going with a 7-spd Shimano Megarange freewheel (34, 26-14) with 53/39 on the front. I'll see if I need to cold-set the rear after I try jamming in the new 126mm hub in the 120mm rear. Actually, it measures at 122 so I spread it a bit in the past, apparently.

Any 8- or 9-speed SRAM or Shimano MTB derailleur should work with your Shimano STI levers. Mega-drive cassettes require a Mega-drive compatible derailleur, though.

My solution:

http://velospace.org/files/P1190274[1].jpg

Update on all this.
I'm running downtube shifters
OEM was 7spd SIS
When the rear shifter wore out I found NOS 8spd on eBay and converted.
Years back when Nashbar was closing out their 8spd wheelsets I bought several so I have the wheels to play with.
Via a more than helpfull hand from the local (top end)LBS I discovered the 157Q factor/tread for the Polyvlant (reconstituted sugino rd600 triple)super compact double will work fine with my rx100 front derailleur.

(In the process I discovered the stronglight compact I installed 7 years back was not exactly compatable with the taper on the SH24 BB I installed at the same time. Shall we say the Q factor was somewhere around 164!
So; I learned something in the process about checking the fit of cranksets to BB)

LBS suggested going with an older sis style deore as the changer on the rear. The road derailleurs can be screwed (B Screw)in enough to work fine with the 30t but going to a 32 is a bit too much.

Photos of Paramount
 

I'm running a Campy compact up front, 50/34 with an Ultegra 9s 12-27. I've only met one hill so far (limited riding) that the gearing (motor) couldn't handle but my friend said his Harley has a hard time climbing that hill too. :) I like this setup.

Pics!
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f6...o/87291b34.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f6...o/89610a7f.jpg