Diamond in the Rough, Opus III
 

http://i.imgur.com/Spmbvtc.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mXh9Bd9.jpg


Picked this up, it's a little rough, but the frame is solid, missing a few original parts, but nothing major.

Nice pick up. Appears to be a 1985.

http://classicfuji.com/OpusIII_1985_Page.htm

Yeah, the serial # is: B513

Sweet! You are going to love it once you get it sorted out!

I put another 30 miles on one I recently scored just Saturday. I love the paint on these and how it sparkles in the sun. I catch myself looking at the paint vs the road sometimes, LOL!

Did you score the tubular wheelset too? Mine came with a clincher wheelset and swapped out saddle. Weighed it just today though ready to ride and with 2 bottle cages, pedals, computer mount and the original frame pump it came to 23 lbs 1 oz. A bit more than the 20 lbs listed in the catalog.

Here's a link to where I've got a lot of pics of mine if you need to check some info as you build yours up.

opus_iii Photo Gallery by J Huddle at pbase.com

And one shot as I got it. Only thing different now are new matching bottle cages and new Conti GP Classic tires.

http://www.pbase.com/jhuddle/image/164053432.jpg

Can't wait to see your progress on this. Nice find! What are your plans for it?

I can't stop staring at the paint, you are very right. I am upgrading from an '84 team Fuji and I just can't wait til I get the opus going. Sadly it was very mistreated, and parts like handlebars, hubs, and rims were swapped. Also the 42t chainring is pretty worn, is that 144bcd or 130? As you can see the chain hanger was bent, and I want to see if I can fix it somehow. Gladly only cosmetics are rough, the frame is perfect.

Velobase has it as 144bcd

VeloBase.com - Component: SunTour CW-5000, Superbe Pro

Hopefully the hanger will straighten without breaking. Someone may chime in the right way to do it. I'm thinking heating it first but I really don't know.

I honestly am a bit cramped on mine in the drops but am struggling with swapping in the proper fitting stem and wider bars or leaving it. If I do change them I will keep the originals.

I'd say a good tubular setup would easily put these in the 21 lb range.

nice score. I have the same chain hanger issue on one of my bikes and I admit.. I just left it that way. too worried about screwing something up.

If the chain hanger is unusable in its current bent shape, you don't have much to lose by trying to bend it back. If it snaps off, it's still unusable. :P

Heat isn't going to help. If you get the hanger hot enough to make the metal more malleable, you'll ruin the paint in that area before you get there.

Cool bike; I'd love to find one in my size.