I'm working on a similar project. I'm using a '74 Raleigh Competition frame with an unknown but nice replacement fork.

You can order a wheelset with a red band Shimano 8 speed, DT Competition spokes and polished Sun CR-18 rims from the QBP catalog from most any bike shop.

I don't like the full length shift housing held with zip ties setup I've seen, so I'm going to use a Sturmey Archer fulcrum clip on the downtube and bare cable under the bottom bracket to a clip on the chainstay and then housing to the hub. I'm going to try to make a Shimano shifter work by using a Shiftmate because I don't like the plastic grip shifter. I think it was Neal Lerner that posted that he had some success with that setup.

It's going to have Cinelli Priest bars, Soma inverse levers, a Record crank with a Super Record ring and rubber block pedals so I can ride it barefoot at the beach.