NYIRISH83

Tonight I started the tear down of my '74-'75 Fuji Special Tourer. Shifters, brakes, derailers and bar tape were removed a few years ago when I decided to do this project...life got in the way and now I'm back to it. I removed the wheelset, crankset and bottom bracket. I'm not sure if I want to take down the front end as it doesn't have any play and still feels good. I had read that this bicycle came from the factory with a nitto stem and bars, which I am happy to say still has. The rear rack is Swiss made and very good quality, also happy about that. I'm going for the easiest conversion I can on this project because its my first. Eightinch makes a "deluxe conversion kit" that includes a wheelset (700c with flip flop hub and cogs) crankset, chain and bottom bracket. The last components I will be hunting around for are a single brake lever, cable and caliper. If anyone has any input on "cheap, but good" I'll be grateful. Down the road I'll be adding a front rack and fenders (either a single rear, or set...haven't decided) lastly, the name of the project. The reason I'm calling it "Vega" is because I am doing a red color scheme to match the Lockheed Vega flown by Amelia Earhart. The wheel set by Eigthinch is their "Amelia" line and also my daughter's name. We like the association haha. Secondly, "Commie Grocery Getter"...it's going to be an all red utilitarian bicycle...hard pressed for anything more commie than that...maybe a monsterous tractor with red steel wheels? Anyway, I'll be uploading pictures as it gets further underway. I might swing into my work tomorrow to grind on it a bit and clean some of it up in the solvent tank (I'm a diesel mechanic, odd place for a bicycle)

NYIRISH83

I believe the production year is 1974, but I think the first year of the special tourer is 1975. The S/N is M9F01633. I've been to the classic fuji page and I looked at an old post on here about fuji serial data base, which is partly what lead me to my conclusion. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

skinny matt

Looking forward to this build. Keep us posted.

striknein

Lukester78

etc.

NYIRISH83

Used the bead blaster at work today, have some finishing up to do tomorrow. Should be shooting it this week.

NYIRISH83

All the bead blasting is complete, ordered some origin8 track pedals, dia compe dual pivot caliper, sram slickwire cable, 3/16 ball bearings and 5/32 ball bearings grade 25 by wheel mfg. I also picked up some Phil Wood waterproof grease. (I probably should have just used some multipurpose from work) next pay check will be the conversion kit. Any suggestions for a single drop bar brake lever? I figure a short reach? Still learning via Sheldon Brown. The project is coming together slowly but surely!

striknein

If you had a blog, you could put this on your blog.

NYIRISH83

Don't have much going on huh?

NYIRISH83

You bro, bro?

seau grateau

Bro.

bro

what

ThimbleSmash

Me like. Look forward to seeing this project pan out, gives me some motivation to actually start my Centurion project.

NYIRISH83

I bought that Phil Wood grease and realized today I could have just used CAT desert gold grease instead...it's some serious stuff

NYIRISH83

Just have to clear it, waiting on my bearings and grabbing some Desert Gold on Monday. Coming along!

sheepdog84

breau.

Robofunc

Did you paint the bottoms of the chainstays?

NYIRISH83

Yeah I painted the underside, I didn't have a place to hang it so I had to spray the bottom, let it dry, then spray the rest. Wet sanding between coats has given it a nice smooth finish. I'm planning on doing a couple coats of clear, I used three cans of color, so two cans of clear ought to suffice.

NYIRISH83

Different angle

striknein

You couldn't get a piece of string and run it through the head tube? Pro.

seau grateau

ftfha?

This actually looks like it's coming along nicely. Darker accents on the lugs would be way classy. Or at least throw some cool decals on it before clear-coat. I know red is the fastest color but a pure red frame can turn into an eyesore...fast.

striknein

Oh sry typo an ha.

Robofunc

I think it'll be a nice ride, depending how you build it up. I'd try figuring a way to turn your photos 90˚ clockwise.

NYIRISH83

I was looking at pictures of Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega, it has gold accents...decals are a good idea, I was going to have my boss make up some for me, but I'm not sure if I want to go with my original idea. Striknein, I had nowhere good to hang the bike itself.

Lukester78

Looks like you have one big garage door as opposed to 2. I usually hang stuff from the middle 2 tracks, with both doors open. Or if the frame/part/thing is light enough, from the hinges on an open garage door

Either way, looks nice. wish I had access to a bead blaster for my frames, paint remover sucks, and the sandblaster we have at school sucks and is small