My 97 Stumpjumper (8 speed) is coming out of retirement and I need some help with some driveline questions.

Current:
Strong arm crank w/ 42/32/22, chainrings badly worn
Cassette: 12-30, more than likely worn
Chain: worn
RD: XTR, seems ok...maybe shifting down a little slowly
Shifters" XT 8speed, seem fine

Is it reasonable to change just the chainrings, cassette and chain and go with it and if the RD has problems then get a newer XT 772 shadow.
Is this problematic?
or...
Just get a new 9 speed set up?
LX 582 Crank, XT 772 RD, XT shifter, XT 9sp cassett, 9spd chain.

I realize the top option is cheaper ($125) versus the bottom option ($450-$500), albiet everything would be new...and I plan on keeping this bike for a while, there's always trails for a HT.
Spending the money on a 9spd set up isn't really a problem for me, but not if the 8 spd upgrade will work and is easy to find.

Thoughts.

Unless you really like your bike and plan to ride it well in to the future, stick with 8 speed. Add new cables and housing to that list - it's probably the cause of the slow rear shifting.

*cough**cough* look at my sig *cough**cough*

9 speed really has no advantages over 8.

Now, I'm just throwing out numbers here, but on an eight speed cassette you might get....

11-12-14-16-18-20-24-28

On a nine speed, you'll get

11-12-14-16-18-20-24-26-28

Do you REALLY need that 26?

That may all be well and true if you run a 11 - 28 cassette, but the majority of people would be running an 11-32 cassette (11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32) or 11-34 cassette ( 11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30-34).
In this case, 9-speed gives you a much better range.

Get 9 speed. It doesn't work out that much more expensive at all.
I dont think you will need to replace your current XTR Deraillure. It should work with both 8 and 9 speed (the shifter is what determines how much cable pulls on the derailuure to change the gears.) Your upgrading your cranks anyway, but they dont have an any effect on whether you choose 8speed or 9speed. Your getting a new cassette anyway, get a nine speed. The only thing you need are new 9speed shifters.

Get 9 speed

dang rankin... at those prices i could put disk brakes on my bike now LOL

(i beleive my fork has the brackets for them)

Well, I'm thinking I might keep the bike for a while. ???
What I don't want to happen is; get the 8 spd cassette, and new chainrings, 8spd chain, cables and housing and have it not perform...

Ok, so the economic choice is freshen up the 8spd, the money's not an issue choice is go with 9spd.

Would a newer LX crank work well with the 8spd set up? Are the chainrings narrower?
Should I try and find 8spd specific chainrings? The Strongarm crank seems to be ok...haven't checked the condition of the BB yet.

I'm starting to lean more towards cleaning up the 8spd side of things.
What is a good source of 8spd stuff, specifically chainrings?

Thanks

Read what i posted above...

I would go with option 2 because you said that you will likely have it for a while and you will get your moneys worth having that sutff for a while...either way though, it will be good to ride.

Unless you ride just dirt roads, spend as little as you can on the antique, and replace it with a modern full suspension bike when you can. Money better spent. Well, that is, unless you plan to mothball the full sus like you did your Stumpy!

What I may end up doing, if it will 'functionally' work, is replace the granny and middle chain rings, chain and cassette and be done with it. Not a huge investment and this way I'm only replacing what's worn out.
I have a problem with chucking perfectly good stuff.
This should provide me with enough bike to do what I want it to do until I decide on the Ventana El Saltamonte.
I rode more than just dirt roads before and unless it's really spine numbing baby heads, I'll use it on more than that.