You can get a wheelset with cog and lockring for $100 (look at bikeisland.com). I'd budget $25 for a bottom bracket (you'll want a 103mm bottom bracket to make a nice chainline with your new track wheels, consider the Tange at benscycle.net), another $50 for a cheap crankset (look for Origin 8 on eBay) and $10 for a chain.
You'll probably also want new brake cables and pads ($20-$40 total). You'd do well to overhaul the headset, which means about $5 for ball bearings. New tires and tubes are also likely in order. If you're going to ride it much, you should plan at least $50 for this. If you need new bar tape, figure on $10 for that. You can get really nice brake levers for $20. Figure $10 for grease.
Finally, there's the question of whether or not you have or can borrow all the tools you need. If you have the tools, you're looking at about $350 to do the project right. (Not coincidentally, this is the price of the cheapest brand new fixed gear bike on the market.)
Anyway, I don't mean to scare you away. For the above investment you'll also get a lot of first-hand knowledge and a deep bond with your bike.
The question about the bottom bracket has to do with how it's threaded. I'm not sure if that was clear from the previous discussion. Most new bottom brackets use what's called English or ISO threading (1.37" x 24 tpi), some older Raleigh's used a Raleigh-specific threading (1 3/8" x 26 tpi) which isn't compatible. The thing to do is hope that you don't have that. Your LBS can probably help you figure it out.
thanks for all the info im deffinatly going to be coming back to this fourm for more info, first i wont have to pay for labor, tools, etc, but your estimates sounded a little inflated (or maybe its me being an optimist) but lets say i reuse everything possible ,except front/back wheels, what would you guys say im looking at then? if you couldnt tell im trying to keep it low cost due to my other upcoming toy ('98 volvo T5M
)
Originally Posted by
acorn_user
I fear he does. I worked on one of these old Grand Prixs with a friend who wanted to make it into a fixie. The BB of that one was 26tpi. Best bet with that is to try and use the existing crank or at least the BB. You might be able to change the axle and keep the existing cups. Alternatively, a good LBS should be able to rethread the BB shell. If you want to stay 26 tpi, you could buy Phil Wood cups (in 26tpi) and use them with a BB that has removable cups such as the Phil Wood BB or a Shimano UN-72.
Good luck!
thanks but idk if you were refering to the model type when you said grand prix, but i have a "record", and i hope that means i dont have the weird threading ...
existing crank? i can use the one on the bike?
sorry for this essay you had to read haha ill try to keep it shorter next time
THanks in advance