Originally Posted by
bikemig
Nah you can set it if its Reynolds. From 1970 to '73, the rear triangle was not Reynolds per the catalogs but I don't know whether it is hi tensile steel or not. It would not surprise me if it were though. If it is, then you will find it easy to spread the rear triangle. I think the '74 is also not full Reynolds. The catalog is not as clear as it could be on this but there is a poster here with a '74 and the sticker was Reynolds 531 main frame and fork.
https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=33193
Does your bike still have the Reynolds sticker? A pic would help here.
If you have all the original stuff, I'd be tempted to do a resto mod.
Unfortunately almost all the decals are gone, including the Reynolds sticker. There are just a few artifacts on the downtube, and the headtube sticker (not a physical badge) is still intact. I do not still have the Campy rear der (I had swapped it out for a Suntour with a wider range cluster for hilly riding and touring with panniers. I think I know where it is in my old barn unless the new owners really cleaned out!) or the Brooks saddle, or that original gear cluster. When it was in better shape 20 years ago I looked into resto and was not encouraged about its value due to not being "top of the line", and with kids & such that was the end of that. I'm more interested in using it for my riding style now, not a restoration. At the risk of being asked to leave this forum thread LOL.