I'm planning on buying a Surly Cross Check frame due to my current lack of money to front over $1000+ for the full bike.

I have an old huffy strider. It has a 5spd freewheel and friction shifters.

I want to work to upgrade my old bike so eventually my parts would be able be put on the Surly frame. What is the best order to do upgrades?

I only chose the cross check because I heard it was probably the best bang for my buck.

First off, you'll have to replace a bunch of stuff at once to keep it rideable if you are looking for stuff that would be appropriate down the road for the Crosscheck. This will cost some serious money.

Typically, it is far less expensive to purchase a complete bike than to build one piece by piece. My suggestion would be to put your money aside to purchase a new bike and ride the heck out of the Huffy in the mean time. Or, put away enough to get a decent used bike ($200ish), dump the Huffy and then start saving up for THE bike.

I would leave the Huffy intact and ride it as is.

For the Surly I would write out a plan for which components you want to use, and then visit the bike oriented web sites and ebay. It will take longer (waiting for sales and clearance sales) but it will be worth it.

+1 you're better off buying a whole bike; way cheaper.

Would you build a car from parts from the wreckers? Not the same deal as building a PC...

If you are determined to move forward (i don't think, and others here also seem not to think, this is a good idea) you will probably need to replace (as a minimum):

Headset, stem, bars, Probably wheels (unless the strider has 700C size wheels), seatpost, front derailleur, bottom bracket, crank, brakes...
Thanks to the old parts, the bike will likely still work like crap, but be significantly more expensive then simply buying a used bike.

Most cost effective:etc.
Start shopping for a good quality used touring or road-sport bike - check Craigslist, Kijiji (or any other online classified ads), newspaper classifieds, second hand shops, bulletin boards at bike shops or gyms

Easiest way to get a good bike that fits: Go to LBS and buy a new bike (but this is expensive)

Slowest way to get a new bike that exactly matches what you want: shop for major bargains for all components. (if you are not careful or not sure what you are doing, this can easily cost as much money as a new bike)

My suggestion: If you want a good bike now, start shopping used. Be careful to check the condition of anything you plan to buy, and be aware of how you want the bike to fit (this is the most important step).

Don't be afraid to post here if you have any questions.

Good luck!

+100 Really bad idea. Use your Surly frame budget, and buy a really sweet used bike instead. I see a lot of really nice bikes in the $200 to $300 range, or less. Building up a new frame is best if you have a large budget, or a pile of really good parts in hand.

And the harder you look, the better the deals you will find.

Or if you can wait long enough buy your frame and put it back.Then as you get the money add to it one part at a time.You bet it will take a while but I did it on one of my bicycle it work out for me but ever one has an idea.But Like most said here buy a use bike or just ride the one you have until you have the money.

a Huffy Strider? as in Huffy? like a department store bike? why would you put parts (if they fit) from an old $100 bikes on a $1000 frame?

I agreee with those thjat said buy a whole bike. isn't the complete Crosscheck only $1050? https://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check_complete/

this one does not come in "Beef Gravy brown" but I love my Fantom Uno so I am sure this is great too https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ane/outlaw.htm

I put old parts on a new frame and it rides like a new bike. Isn't the frame the most important part?

Frame quality, IMHO, is the third most important factor...

1st is the fit - a bike that does not fit the rider will not be a good bike
2nd is the wheels and tires - a very basic bike with properly trued and lubricated and inflated wheels and tires will ride better than an expensive bike with rusty bearings and underinflated tires.
3rd is frame quality - dimensions and geometry and a reasonable amount of flex.

And, just to be clear, the problem with the OP's plan is not that the parts are old, but that the parts are very low quality, and many will not fit the new frame at all.