just purchased this old shwinn varsity with mostly original parts. Some rust on the frame and I was wondering what I need to remove it or how to even just repaint the whole thing. Trying to convert to a single speed for a commuter. It's pretty heavy, I just need to know what parts I can keep and what else I need to make it safe to ride. This is my first build so I'm buying parts as I go along. Any advice would be helpful, that's why I joined the forum. Happy Easter everyone!

I go the bike like that with the handle bars like that. I just fixed it lol

Look through this: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/510358-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Start-Here! first and then come back for specific questions. As for rust see here first: https://bit.ly/14GtS8R

Easy conversion: pull the derailleurs (you have semi-horizontal dropouts), swap on a single speed (BMX) freewheel and chain, and pick which sprocket you want. I'd suggest swapping out the rear axle with one that can accept track nuts. Otherwise you'll want to stuff the axle as far as possible into the dropout and clamp the QR down hard.

For the rust, it depends on how bad it is (pictures might help). If it isn't wide spread, I'd probably get a cheap ($10-$15) quart of touch up paint matched by a local store. Sand the area down (you have thick tubing) and carefully blend it in with a small brush. If the rust is all over the place, it isn't really worth trying to save. The Varsity, Collegiate, and Continental were not exceptional bikes to start with, and time has not done anything for them. Still, I think they are interesting pieces of American cycling history, made in Chicago by a unique manufacturing process ("electro-forging").

Don't start making hipster cuts on that frame (removing the cable stays). Chances are you'll either find out SS is not for you or you'll get hooked and want something lighter and nicer riding. Either way, the Schwinn makes a better novelty 10 speed than a serious SS/FG bike. Most of the components are at least decent quality - those not made in the US are Japanese or Swiss, no Chinese crap.

Bottom line: don't drop serious money into it, just make it safe and have fun.

Thanks, but that's the idea. I live in an area where it's really flat. It's just to get me too and from class. It was just $20 that's why I bought it. I've been finding a lot of helpful videos on how to do some things. Do I need to get new wheels all together because of how old they are?

Depending on how cheap of CL deals you can find in your area, I'd say new wheels are the easiest way to go, lacing a new hub+ spokes + labor is going to cost about the same as you can find a generic normal set of wheels.

Also my stem is stuck. It won't come out because of how old it is I think. It's like the metal rusted together a little. How can i take care of that?

Try PB Blaster or Ammonia to start with.

+1--for several days.

Then.....if the bolt will turn, unscrew it a bit and pop it with a hammer. Than might get the "offset" lower part of the quill stem to free up.

gregjones is right. Depending on how stuck it is the process can last a while and you need to just keep at it.

I don't know the Schwinn Varsity (never got them here) so I might be well wide of the mark, but sometimes, when you pull all the heavy components off a cheap bike, you're left with a pretty reasonable frame.

i kept hiting mine upside down with a rubber hammer, it came out on like 90th try.

Vibration works wonders to loosen rust..........especially when combined with a solvent (PB Blaster).

Those frames are pretty heavy when stripped down. I have one, they are made from gas pipe with an American sized bottom bracket and have an Ashtabula style fork, just heavy all around.
Good buy though for $20. It's pretty much a bullet proof frame but like everyone is saying build it on the cheap. You can get a BMX crankset that will fit if you want the 3 piece look or just stick with a one peice. If the wheels are not overly rusty or out of true just keep them and put new tires,tubes, and a single speed freewheel on them.

He could always pick up a American to Euro BB adapter for 15 bucks and use any low-buck "track" crankset he wants too.

But yeah, those frames weigh a metric **** ton.

Yeah crazy heavy even after removing some of the stuff. It's like the down stem is stick in the fork from being there for so many yeaRs. Trying to keep it cheap as possible so I can go on short rides with my girlfriend on her cruiser cause she loves the outdoors. Plenty of flat trails. What do you guys think of me repainting the frame. I like to do everything my self unless i need someone else who knows a lot about bikes. can I use the same sprocket ?

Idk why they are upside down its cause I'm on my iPad but I just finished my conversion to single speed. Just got new tires, tube, and chain. Just ordered new bar tape. Its Just my commuter and I love it so far even though its kind of heavy. Had no idea what I was doing but learned through videos and just doing it. It's smooth and does the job