Originally Posted by
Ribs
Okay! So I found a good deal on Aluminum 700c wheels. Problem is they're the modern hub widths; so, the frame will have to ply a little to get in there. I read the Sheldon Brown article on frame spreading. Is there anything in particular I should be worried about with the Grand Prix frame?
Thanks!
For a 700c wheel, the braking surface falls 4 millimeters lower than it does for the original 27 inch wheels. Some original brakes do not have enough room in the brake shoe mounting slot to allow the shoes to be moved down this far. If yours don't have extra room, you'll need to either stick with the 27's or get a different set of brake calipers.
Aluminum 27 inch rims are on the market. You could solve the brake problem by just having new aluminum rims, such as CR-18s, laced onto your old wheels. If you choose the rim carefully, you will be able to reuse the old spokes.