Need help with a restoration/custom rebuild.

valleyoftheunos

hey folks I'm hoping you good people can help me with a little project I'm starting.

I came into a possession of an old bike that belonged to my great Uncle and I have decided to do a bit of a job on it and get it into good shape. It is rideable at the moment but when I took it out to Rothar in Phibsboro they told me it needs a brand new pair of everything and that everything but the frame and pedals needs to be replaced.

Since then I ID'd it and am about 95% sure that it was once a Raleigh Tourist from somewhere between 1972-76 although there really isn't much left of the original bike. There is way too much missing to attempt an actual restoration but I don't want to just stick a collection of random parts on the frame either so I'm thinking I will try and turn it into a sort of custom cruiser/tourer.

What I want to do is rebuild it myself with the most suitable parts I can find, salvage as much of it as I can, give it a nice custom paint job and turn it into something lovely.

So what I need help with are some resources for parts, ideas and know how, websites, forums, shops any suggestions or directions would be greatly appreciated.

Ive inserted a picture of the bike below, it doesn't look like much but even in this condition its a great ride and well worth saving I think .

feck sake lads

could be a nice project ,try spa cycles in the uk for parts .if des maye is still in operation go to him for a custom respray excellent work .

Donelson

It looks in great nick for a bike that could be 40 years old.
Is it steel or alu? What are the cable routing like? What are the bearings like, if there not corroded new lub will make a world of difference.
Could I suggest you buy a veneers to help with measurements.

The tax man

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/

You can look through scans of the old Raleigh catalogues to gage its age.

Retrobike.co.uk would be one source of info on old Raleighs you could try.
Best of luck with it.

valleyoftheunos

Thanks Guys, very helpful .

petethedrummer

www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/showroom-310-c.asp

happytramp

A couple of other sites for parts...

http://www.lfgss.com/search.php?searchid=14367004

http://vintagebikecave.com/

Also 'Velobase' an indispensable guide for identifying and researching vintage components.

http://velobase.com/