Long story short...
I started building/rebuilding/restoring(?) a 1981 Team Mongoose in the early ninety's.
I had almost all the parts needed to accomplish my build, but never completed it.
Aug. 2005, KATRINA swiped most of my stash...
October. 2007-I have the frame (blue finish stripped to nickel), original Tange forks (TRX), Original wheels (in very rough shape, hubs probably can't be saved), the double clamp stem and a black Tuff Neck seat clamp.

My Plan...
To build the bike using NOS parts, NEW parts, and some other good parts I have from different eras.
I will never spend the time or money it will take to "RESTORE" her to like new. So I want to mix this build with all era's but keep it "nostalgic".
Parts list (subject to change)

1981 Mongoose Team painted/powdered WHITE, apply repro decals
Original Tange forks painted/powdered WHITE
Headset BLACK
Original Goose stem, rebuilt/updated (Katrina did a number on it)
New FMF Aluminum Bars, BLACK
Ame grips, WHITE
Sealed, NEW, Square bottom bracket
Bullet Proof or FMF 170mm crank arms, BLACK
Pedals ??????
FMF Chainring, BLACK
FMF flip flop hubs (new), BLACK
WHITE spokes
Black nipples
??????? RIMS??????(Black? black/machined sidewall?, chrome?)
New COMP 3 tires
Original Tuff Neck seat clamp BLACK
????seat post????(Black?, White?, Alum?, Chrome?)
FBM "rummble" seat(new), BLACK
DiaCompe 901 brake caliper, BLACK
DiaCompe Tech 3 lever, polished
????cable????

That is the basic "idea" for the build, what do you think?
I can "see" the bike in my head and I like it, and like I said I will never properly restore it anyway.
I will never sell it and it's been sitting for 20 plus years.

Please let me know your opinions, good, bad or other on the "concept" and/or the parts list.

Thanks

seems to me like you could use mostly era correct parts for not that much more than what your list covers. I dont think it would be as much a pain in the *** as you think it is.


New FMF Aluminum Bars, BLACK

Lots of era correct options here

Bullet Proof or FMF 170mm crank arms, BLACK

easy to find some 3 piece sugino's or whatever they are all over the place

FMF Chainring, BLACK

easy to find suginos or other era correct for pretty cheap in whatever color

FMF flip flop hubs (new), BLACK

Sooo many options in hubs acs, shimano etc hubs are easy to find and cheap

FBM "rummble" seat(new), BLACK

buy a cheap viscount aero or whatever.

Pedals ??????

tons of kkt and mks on the bay for cheap

??????? RIMS??????(Black? black/machined sidewall?, chrome?)

Sumo are cheap and look right, are new tuffs out of the question? you can get em in tons of colors.

????seat post????(Black?, White?, Alum?, Chrome?)

black


Sorry but I would do it right. I would hate to build it up with new and then always have that nagging feeling like what if?
Plus if you get the right cheapo parts it wont kill it, you might be the only one to know where you saved money.

Will

Looks to me like alot of black n' white. I'd go with chrome wheels, pedals and seat pole*. Otherwise sounds like a bulletproof looking Mongoose.

*I just like saying seat pole.

Hi Raceit
I personally build my bikes with parts as close to the time they came out bitd, BUT in saying that, the whole idea (in my opinion) about BMX Resto's is doing what YOU like in bike builds.
There are no rules to follow and if your happy with your project, then so am I.
That's my belief. I say go for it!
You can always change parts if your want. There will be some die-hard era correct fans, but really it's your personal choice.
Anyone who comments on builds should be positive and if they want to be negative or critical they shouldn't be part of this great (and ever growing) BMX community.
Just my thoughts....
Cheers

Mick - Volcano

ps Randy - You make me laugh

Thanks for the opinions!
I would like to build it era correct but I don't know the proper resources to do so.
I'm totally sick of the BS with e-bay and don't wan't to put cheap/worthless replacement parts on it.
I figured I could build a bike that has meaning to me that would represent all eras and still have a little nastolga. Besides, everyone ELSE builds them era correct or "box stock" so I am going to go the "custom/retro-era-incorrect" route and see how it turns out.

Please keep the comments coming, I do value them

Thanks Again!

raceit, have fun with it. do it the way you want. why make it look like everyone else's bike. there are a ton of those out there. i'm with you as far as ebay goes. you can definitely score a lot of parts from the guys on this website and get a lot of help too. good luck and have fun.