OK... you have all convinced me on the paint I'll keep it original. I'll have to think about the center pull brakes though. I have a set of classic 1974 dura ace sidepulls that really look classy. I have one other problem, the right crank has been bent very slightly. You can just barely see it and when you pedal you can tell. The pedal doesn't spin as freely there either since the crank has been bent right there at the very end before the pedal screws in. Can that be straightened? THinking I might try squeezing in a vice taking care to cover the vice teeth to avoid gouging. Any suggestions on the bent crank?

I'm not saying to do what you described- but if if you were to do it that way, use a long piece of pipe to do the straightening, not a hammer. I bend/straighten anchor bolts on construction sites all the time with the pipe method, but I don't know how well it'd work on a crank.

Probably would be easier to buy a new crank arm. And if the bending doesn't work right, you'll be buying a new one anyway.

Carefully drill out the rivets. It's actually pretty easy if you counter punch them.

Also, I vote for keeping the CP brakes.

-G

Duraluminium isn't steel - I think that crank of yours will lose a lot of strength when you bend it back. Better to get a replacement.