http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/...ne-1991-12.htm
http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/...ne-1991-36.htm

From the looks of it - appears to be a 1991 model with several non-original specification parts. The '92 models switched to a metallic purple color scheme. The '93 models were red, with the biplanar fork. FYI.

This frame would look pretty nice in Tiger Drylac candy/metallic powdercoat red. Powder costs less and works better (especially in California), and the coater usually does the stripping for you.

I wouldn't worry about changing the bar setup that much. Bridgestones had stems that were a little too long, IMO - and unless yours are made by Nitto and are Ritchey branded, they won't be of much value to the average Bridgestone collector anyhow.

Nitto makes a threadless adapter and a riser bar that will work in this application. They may cost a little more, but Nitto's stuff has always been good.

The Specialized crank ought to clean up nicely. I'd hang onto it.

Since you still have the thumbies and (presumably) the original derailleurs, you have the option of keeping to the original 3x7 configuration. There's nothing wrong with thumbshifters - in fact, they seem to be making a comeback, thanks to the bar-con converters that Paul Components makes in your end of the Central Valley. Shimano hubbed mountain wheels are usually easy to come by on eBay. You're better off buying an already-made set, assuming you're trying to keep your costs down.

I definitely would swap out that headset. If you do some digging on eBay you should be able to locate a Shimano STX cartridge type (1" threaded) for replacement purposes, or a more Bridgestone-correct Italian Tange Falcon. Don't bother with Ritchey headsets, though - they're excrement.

Also, you might want to dump the resin-bodied pedals in favor of suitable MKS replacements. SR/Sakae stopped making Grant's favorite pedal (the Lowfat), and NOS is prohibitively expensive.

Lastly - keep it rigid. There are very few suspension forks out there in 1" threaded configuration, and they're mostly beat to hell.