swapping parts between frames
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
swapping parts between frames
I have an old 18" Timberline All-Terra GT and I recently found a 21" Trek 820 frame and I'm thinking this will be a good move for me and that swapping everything will be a smooth transition. The Trek has a crank and a handlebar. I'm 6' tall.
Anyone see any red flags with the grand plan ...? :-) The guy wants $35 for the Trek frame.
Am I better off looking for a used bike closer to my size that has all it's parts?
Anyone see any red flags with the grand plan ...? :-) The guy wants $35 for the Trek frame.
Am I better off looking for a used bike closer to my size that has all it's parts?
#2
formerly turdsandwich
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 425
Bikes: 1993 Specialized Allez Pro, 1984 Trek 520, 198? Ross Mt St Helens, 1980 Raleigh Super Gran Prix, 197? Raleigh Gran Prix SS City Banger, 2012 Lynskey ProCross Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Which is the better fit? Parts should swap just fine.
#3
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,470 Times
in
1,435 Posts
It will take several hours of work, and there will be surprises. If you like that sort of thing, go for it. If you run into trouble, come back here for help or visit your local bike shop (LBS).
tom
tom
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
Well, I've been told the 18" is too small for me. When I ride it I'm on the back edge of the seat so I agree. The bigger frame should be a better fit.
I'm OK with some surprises, at least the surprises will keep me from finding some other project to attempt. I prefer an easy swap though.
I'm OK with some surprises, at least the surprises will keep me from finding some other project to attempt. I prefer an easy swap though.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,621
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 485 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Probably doesn't matter to you, but I think the older Trek MTB's with numbers below 850 use some HT steel in either the frame stays or fork or both (vs. Cromoly). The ones above 900 are the cool kid bikes.
It will likely be a bit heavier than your GT.
It will likely be a bit heavier than your GT.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 208
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Trek
I have an 87 model Trek 800 and it is straight ga. steel. I converted it to a touring bike. It weighs one pound less than my 62 cm LHT. Mine has been a very fun bike to ride and has been well cared for.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,745
Bikes: S-Works Roubaix SL2^H4, Secteur Sport, TriCross, Kaffenback, Lurcher 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Should be smooth. You'll most likely need all new cables and housings.
#8
Senior Moment
I've done this type of project, and I'm no mechanical whiz kid. It's pretty straight forward wrenching, and some minor adjusting. It's a fun project and it's good experience, go for it.