I might be getting a set of new (few years old but never ridden) Dura Ace hubs laced to Mavic GP4 rims....maybe. Before I buy anything that is out of my comfort zone (5-7spds) I want to know the compatibility of these with items I already have.
Current list
DA 7400 cranks
DA f/d not sure what model
Shimano 105 r/d (pearlish silver) model 1055 (I think). I'd like to find a nice DA r/d

That's what I have. As far as shifters go, if I can find a pair of DA 9spd DT shifters, great, otherwise I'll just use what I have in friction mode. Where am I going to run into issues with this stuff? Can I use a spacer and swap to 8spd to simplify? I don't think I'm going to use STI's.... too expensive

Well, let's see...

You won't need a spacer for 8-speed, that's only if you go with a 7-speed cassette. Which Dura-Ace hubs are they? If they're the newest 10-speed hubs, they may ONLY take a 10-speed Dura-Ace cassette. I found this out the hard way with a newer set of Roval wheels I have. The spline thickness is different, so you can't just put on a cheaper cassette. Very irritating, but again that's only with the 7800 series freehub body.

As for other compatibility issues, I don't see any. I suppose technically the 7400 chainrings won't work ideally with the newer narrow chains (9-speed or 10-speed), but I don't think you'll have any issues.

Instead of going friction shifters on 8 or 9-speed, can I suggest indexed downtube shifters? I had a full 7700 groupset on my bike with indexed 9-speed shifters and it was sublime (now Keith has the group). It was noticeably better than friction shifting.

Anyway, if you can clarify those few things, we can help you out

-Collin-

DA 9 speed is SIS compatible, so any SIS components like your current RD will work fine with a DA shifer, or DA 9 speed cassette. DA 8 Speed and below is not SIS compatible, so if you use an 8 Speed DA cassette, RD, or shifter, you'll have to match all the other parts with pre 9 speed DA parts. In other words you are better off going with 9 speed. I wouldn't upgrade the RD unless you really want to. I have a bike that came with 6 speed DA. When the freehub body went bad I took it as an opportunity to upgrade to 9 speed. I used an 8speed DA freehub body which fit on my older hub, and an Ultegra 9-speed cassette which fits on the 8-speed freehub, 9-speed DA downtube shifters and a 600 tricolor RD which was originally used with an 8-speed SIS group. As long as everything is SIS, everything should work great together.

I don't know the model # of the hubs. I counted the cogs, there are 9. They are on an old Pug and the sales clerk wasn't too thrilled with me pulling the bike apart, so that's all I have. I would love to go 9spd indexed but I need to find a set of shifters.

just the righthand indexed shifter is all you need. My setup has the friction shifter form the 6 speed group on the left and a 9 speed indexed shifter on the right. they look identical.

Thanks!

RobtE30, The DA 9S group falls into the 7700 series, IIRC. The 74XX group series can go back to 6S through the 8S. When and if you change the RD don't buy an 8S unit. They have a different pull ratio to just about everything else, friction shifting will work.

An older set of DA 9S hubs will take 7 (w/spacer) to, as I understood also, the early 10S cassettes.

Brad

Rob, not suggesting you buy these, but this is the set that would be ideal for your situation: https://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Dura-Ace...item53e547521c

-Collin-

A lot cheaper across the pond:

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...SH300000000000

The hubs are irrelevant. Once you get into the 130mm spaced hubs they'll accept 8, 9 or 10s cassettes. There is an exception but we wont worry about that right now.