I'm picking up a Peugeot UO-8 for my first singlespeed build. I think it takes 27" wheels. Does anyone know if it will accomodate 700c? Would I have to change brakes?

Also, can the kooky stem be swapped easily, i.e. does it have a 1" steerer clamp and handlebar? And will the seatpost take a modern saddle?

Lastly, any issues foreseen in removing the outer chainring and guard?

Thanks in advance. Cross posted in vintage.

its cheap or free right?

$40 with 27" wheelset

i wouldn't pay $40 for that thing... more like 20, but its your money.

yes it will take 700c wheels
yes you will have to buy different brake levers
yes that seatpost should take a new saddle, provided the old saddle is rails (can't say without looking under it, but it seems to be)
yes the stem can probably be swapped out easily, provided it is indeed 1" and not the weird smaller size.

I'm still working on my UO-8 build.

700c wheels will work with those brakes because I already put them on and the reach is just fine. I'm still waiting for my parts to be plated from my brother (free takes awhile). I junked the cottered cranks and put on an Ultegra octalink set I had, I just modified my BB to accept a right handed cup on the left side and no problem.

You can't easily swap out the stem, it's a french size. You can take a normal stem and sand 2mm off of it though, that's what I did. You could also replace the fork and use a normal stem. Saddle should be no problem. It will take 700c wheels and the original brakes will work fine.

In case you haven't yet seen Sheldon's info on French (bike) peculiarities: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/velos.html

Ahhhhh. I'm converting a '71 U-08 right now and it's been a PAIN to say the least. If the serial # is intact on the bb you can date your bike and then search online and determine for the most part what size parts you will need. If it's early 70's like mine, good luck. The most important aspects of your frame are the bottom bracket and headset, because they are unique to older french bikes and VERY hard to find or VERY expensive when you do. The outer chainring attaches to the crank spider, and the inner attaches to the outer, so good luck getting rid of it. I'm going to space mine in a few mm and respace and redish teh rear wheel to get my chainline right. My cranks still spin smooth and true so I'm a little leary of removing the cotter pins and taking the cranks off. Other than that, I found a 22.0 mm stem on ebay for $20 and a set of belleri road drops with a 25.4 mm clamp diameter for $3 (score). Amazingly the seatpost diameter is also random, under 25.4, and also amazingly jensonusa.com carries a plain silver alloy post with a 25 mm diameter. I'm sooooo close to getting back on the road, it's just this pesky bb that is delaying me. Good luck!

you can purchase a french threaded stronglight a9 headset from xxcycle.com on the cheap. it's a nice fairly modern needle bearing headset -- i use them on both of my french rides. even though they are in france, shipping to the US is pretty cheap.

the bottom brackets aren't too awful, just a little strange. a good solution is to buy a set of phil wood french threaded cups and track down a shimano un-72 bottom bracket. with this particular model you can remove both of the factory cups and use the phil french threaded rings in their place. this works really well. still not ultra cheap, but a very solid option.

alternatively, if you can track down a set of older sugino french threaded cups, you can throw in a s75 109mm bottom bracket spindle (they can be purchased without any cups).

seriously, my previous fixed and my girlfriends current fixed is a peugeot u08.

not worth the time or effort(or money), but then again, neither are conversions in my opinion now.