Cup interchangeability on bottom bracket?
 

I have an old (I assume 80's) French thread Campagnolo cup and cone bottom bracket - looks high end so I think it might be Record (how do you tell?). The frame I would like to use it on has English threaded BB shell. So my question is, could I just get some English thread Campagnolo cups to use with the bearings and spindle, or do I need to buy a complete English bottom bracket?

Cups can be either 3 or 5mm thick. For a 68mm wide bottom bracket shell, the thicker cups require a spindle whose bearing races are 4mm closer together. One can play various games, such as replacing thick (typically Japanese) cups with thin (typically European) ones and simultaneously swapping in an Italian spindle designed for a 70mm BB shell and thin cups. Under this scenario, the adjustable cup has to be advanced another 2mm, but this generally leaves enough exposed threads for the lockring.

A picture would help to ID the BB, otherwise, are the cups aluminum or steel? Are there any spiral ridges in the center holes of the cups? What is written on the face of the cups? How about a picture?:D

I'm guessing a French threaded Campy BB is harder to find than an British threaded one so you could probably find someone here willing to trade.

OK, here are some pictures. The cups are steel, about 5 mm thick, with spiral ridges. Length of spindle is about 114 mm. 50 mm between races.

All rifled NR cups are thick, so you just need a set of Rifled NR British cups and those shouldn't be hard to find.

I have a NOS, never mounted, English threaded BB that I don't need, but it ain't cheap.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_GbbyvLMLh7Q/R8...0/P2251580.JPG

The spindle is a post-CPSC model (114.5 mm), so if you don't already have a crank for it, be sure to get one that's dated 1978 (post CPSC, which I think happened in the middle of the 1977 production!) to 1993 (after which Campy went to ISO taper). As long as you get the right chainline, you can substitute, but a Campy crank will probably be right on for 120 to 126 dropout spacing. Above that, and you probably want a longer spindle.

Thanks all - seems like I can just get some cups.