I will definitely have to remember this! If not for this Bianchi, for future bikes I work on. Which specific model of Phil Wood BB did you end up going with?
I have a vintage Gardin TT frame that's my pride & joy that uses Italian threading and the thought of ever stripping the BB on that frame scares the living daylights out of me...luckily I used a high quality BB and installed it perfectly (didn't even loosen up on me as they usually do!). Hopefully I'll never have to take that BB out for as long as I'm alive, but if I do, and something happens...I will remember Phil Wood.
Originally Posted by
Spaghetti Legs
I also support chase the existing threads. If an Italian re-thread gets screwed up, you're in a deep hole. Unless you live in a big city or are just plain lucky, you might have difficulty finding a shop with Italian taps anyway. Nearest one to me is about an hour away.
Just in case you run into problems after the chasing, here's a solution I used not too long ago. A year or two ago I rehabilitated my '96 C40 which had worn (Italian) BB threads; the drive side would not cinch down, it would slip and loosen up. The mechanic at the DBS (distant bike shop with the Italian taps) recommended not chasing as it would eat up what little thread was left. He recommended a threadless BB, but I couldn't find one in Italian width. I ended up using a Phil Wood. The two adjustable cups work nicely to tighten against each other through the cartridge. I used some blue Loctite and all is well about 1000 miles later. Good luck! Post pics!