Swap parts from GT chromoly frame to aluminum??

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

The link to this bike is:
http://www.bike-alog.com/BikePedia/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1998&Brand=GT&Model=LTS-4000&Type=bike

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

Sure, most of the parts are standard size. The weight savings with
aluminum won't be staggering, maybe a pound, but losing the suspension
will definitely lower weight as would a switch to a rigid fork if it's
road going. MTB tires can add a pound of unnecessary weight each if
you're not cycling in real off road conditions.

In article
<[email hidden]>,

SCT Technology said:

http://www.bike-alog.com/BikePedia/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1998&Brand=GT
&Model=LTS-4000&Type=bike

Leaving the suspension components out of the equation, and since you're
going from one MTB frame(set) to another, offhand the relevant specs
that come to mind are:

- seatpost diameter
- headset configuration, i.e., 1 or 1 1/8", integrated or traditional
- front derailleur requirements: going to another MTB frame the only
relevant spec is clamp size, i.e., seattube diameter
- possibly BB shell threading and width.

Am I missing anything?

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
the road. Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
transplant. Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to use
gloves). That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
to support combustion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap. The risk of
calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent sources
of ignition.

YMMV,

Chalo

Chalo Colina said:

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
the road. Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
transplant. Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to use
gloves). That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
to support combustion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap. The risk of
calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent sources
of ignition.

YMMV,

POTM!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

Tom Sherman said:

Chalo Colina said:

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
the road. Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
transplant. Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to use
gloves). That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
to support combustion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap. The risk of
calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent sources
of ignition.

YMMV,

POTM!

check again. thermite is to reduce iron oxide, not iron.

jim beam said:

Tom Sherman said:

Chalo Colina said:

SCT Technology wrote:
> I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
> 1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
> chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
> could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
the road. Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
transplant. Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to use
gloves). That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
to support combustion.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap. The risk of
calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent sources
of ignition.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

YMMV,

Quoted message said:

POTM!

check again. thermite is to reduce iron oxide, not iron.

Isn't that what he said? "That would reduce the amount of available
iron (III) oxide
to support combustion."

Hank said:

jim beam said:

Tom Sherman said:

Chalo Colina wrote:
> SCT Technology wrote:
>> I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
>> 1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
>> chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame whereI
>> could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
> reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
> the road.  Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
> transplant.  Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
> phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to use
> gloves).  That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
> to support combustion.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
> carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap.  The risk of
> calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent sources
> of ignition.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> YMMV,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

POTM!

Quoted message said:

check again.  thermite is to reduce iron oxide, not iron.

Isn't that what he said? "That would reduce the amount of available
iron (III) oxide
to support combustion."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'm so glat y'all have time to add negative value to the thread!
Thanks everyone for the posts (minus the 4 preceeding this one)

SCT Technology said:

Hank said:

jim beam said:

Tom Sherman wrote:
> Chalo Colina wrote:
>> SCT Technology wrote:
>>> I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
>>> 1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
>>> chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
>>> could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?
>> Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
>> reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
>> the road. Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
>> transplant. Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
>> phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to use
>> gloves). That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
>> to support combustion.
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite
>> If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
>> carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap. The risk of
>> calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent sources
>> of ignition.
>> YMMV,
> POTM!
check again. thermite is to reduce iron oxide, not iron.

Isn't that what he said? "That would reduce the amount of available
iron (III) oxide
to support combustion."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'm so glat y'all have time to add negative value to the thread!
Thanks everyone for the posts (minus the 4 preceeding this one)

Why replace a perfectly good steel frame with recycled beer cans?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

Tom Sherman said:

SCT Technology said:

Hank said:

On Jan 26, 2:53 pm, jim beam <[email hidden]> wrote:

> Tom Sherman wrote:
>> Chalo Colina wrote:
>>> SCT Technology wrote:
>>>> I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased
>>>> back in
>>>> 1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
>>>> chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame
>>>> where I
>>>> could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?
>>> Switching haphazardly from steel to aluminum could trigger a thermite
>>> reaction, causing your bike to explode and possibly melting a hole in
>>> the road. Use great care and deliberation in executing such a
>>> transplant. Immersing your steel bike first in a vat of concentrated
>>> phosphoric acid for about a week would be a good idea (remember to
>>> use
>>> gloves). That would reduce the amount of available iron (III) oxide
>>> to support combustion.
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite
>>> If your bike lighting uses acetylene or magnesium flares or an open
>>> carbon arc, you should not undertake the frame swap. The risk of
>>> calamity would be too great in the presence of these excellent
>>> sources
>>> of ignition.
>>> YMMV,
>> POTM!
> check again. thermite is to reduce iron oxide, not iron.
Isn't that what he said? "That would reduce the amount of available
iron (III) oxide
to support combustion."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'm so glat y'all have time to add negative value to the thread!
Thanks everyone for the posts (minus the 4 preceeding this one)

Why replace a perfectly good steel frame with recycled beer cans?

i think you'll find that the post-consumer recycling rate for steel is
much better than that of aluminum. more likely that your steel frame is
made of old pintos, and that ain't nuthin' to be proud of.

SCT Technology said:

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

The link to this bike is:
http://www.bike-alog.com/BikePedia/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1998&Brand=GT&Model=LTS-4000&Type=bike

Sure. It's pretty easy. One thing to consider is that, if you can use
the extra parts, it may be economical to buy a complete bike and swap
parts around. I did this and got a frame upgrade for my MTB and a spare
"errand bike" in the process. Current aluminum frames are very cheap. If
you still have your original fork, you may find new forks to be much
nicer -- even the low cost ones.

SCT Technology said:

I have a GT mountain bike (model: LTS 4000). It was purchased back in
1998 and is still in great shape. However, it's got a heavy steel
chromoly frame and I would like to find an aluminum bike frame where I
could swap all the parts over. Is this possible?

If you're a middling mechanic it should be fun and not very hard. It's
also a good excuse to buy some tools if you don't already have them
like, say, a bb wrench and maybe a headset cup extractor and press
(though buying the press is likely overkill and better left to a
shop.) As a previous poster wrote, you can get aluminum frames cheap
these days.

If you're not a middling mechanic and the bike is in great shape you
might want to shop a bit for the bike that you want and craigslist/
ebay this one. Those Indy forks suck ass, plus the cogset is 7 speed.
I don't think it matters much as far as riding quality goes, but going
forward you'll likely need a new cogset at some point and trying to
track down non-9sp parts isn't cheap or a whole lot of fun. Getting a
new, nice, light aluminum hardtail bike isn't expensive.

I won't even get into some of the other "innovations" that have become
de rigeur over the last ten years regarding bb spindles and disc
brakes and all that jazz. Some think they're vast improvements, others
think it's marketing-driven BS.

/s