Originally Posted by
The Golden Boy
A lot of really good points here-
A couple of things- the 1982 720 was advertised as coming as the "720" frame and the "728" built up bike. So there was a factory option of just getting a frame/fork. I've seen several what looked to be 84/85 720 frames that were built with non-standard, yet period correct components- so that leads me to believe shops routinely rebuilt/cannibalized bikes OR Trek routinely sent out unbuilt frame/fork sets.
The other thing- the 1982 720/728 was designed around a 700C wheel- for 1983 they went TO 27"
I don't know how relevant it is for a 1982 bike- but by 84 a lot of Trek's bikes were built at 128- so a 126 wheel would clamp in and a 130 would go in without much of any forcing. I did not respace my 85 and the 130 wheel went in with no trouble.
Interesting the dropouts are spaced 128. If the 82 is spaced like that as well it will certainly make things easier for the OP. 720 vs 728 difference noted. I was wondering about that. This was all some time ago...
My old shop was the only Trek dealer in town, and, prior to 1984, we had a rack full of Trek frames. All of them got built up custom. There was no cannibalizing. I kind of wonder if it was a regional thing, I'm not sure I even knew at the time Trek offered full bikes. Trek was locally known as being a good US made frame at a good price. Then the rep came in one day and said that Trek was going to expand into a full(er) line of complete bikes. It was a good pitch and we picked up the whole new line.
FWIW here's a 728 project I just stumbled into:
Trek 728 Revisited