'93 Kona Kilauea P2 fork threaded to ahead conversion

[noworktoday]

Spent sunday fitting my last second hand impact headset to my retrobike. The bottom race, the one on the fork, had split. The one that came with the frame was incomplete, when I got the missing bits it turned out to be shot, a managed to get two second hand replacements and the rougher of the two lasted a little over a year. The better one, that I was saving for after a respray, went on on Sunday. These headsets are getting as rare a hens teeth and I can't find a replacement with the stack height needed.

I've giving serious consideration to whipping the forks off, sending them to Dave Yates and getting him to convert them to aheadstem with his brazing/welding torch. I can then fit, and forget, a Chris King aheadset and a modern stem, and get on with riding

Sensible pragmatic approach or "stone him!" style sacriledge on a retro bike?

and if the latter how do I keep her on the trail once this headset goes?

 

[FluffyChicken]

What stack height do you need ?

It'd be cheaper to get a second set of forks I would have thought.

EDIT I should ask.
Is it only the lower race that's buggered ? The top part ok, if so then just grab a similar or low bottom setup from somewhere, anything will do, modern cartridge. That'll get it going

 

[noworktoday]

What stack height do you need ?

It'd be cheaper to get a second set of forks I would have thought.

By my reckoning it is 33mm.

£70 for the conversion btw

 

[FluffyChicken]

You should be able to pick up some ahead P2's for much less than £70

33 seems low for Impact, thought they where up in the 37/38mm ?
If it is 37/38 then pretty much any shimano of the time and later will fit.

 

[noworktoday]

You should be able to pick up some ahead P2's for much less than £70

33 seems low for Impact, thought they where up in the 37/38mm ?
If it is 37/38 then pretty much any shimano of the time and later will fit.

I'm assuming the ahead P2's will be suspension corrected which I don't want.....

Fairly sure it is 33mm. Only Shimano I know fits is NOS XTR and about as common as new impacts.

 

[FMJ]

Why not fit a CK 2-Nut or Grip Nut? Not enough height?

 

[MikeD]

According to Bikepro they're 39mm stack height. Or the same as this one.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Why not fit a CK 2-Nut or Grip Nut? Not enough height?

I think the CK grip nut would fit, 2-nut I think has a higher stack. Never had one, doubt I ever will but it'll be on their website.

 

[noworktoday]

According to Bikepro they're 39mm stack height. Or the same as this one.

This was me back when I got the bike, hence my thinking 33mm x 1 1/8" was my game....

 

[The Ken]

I'm surprised you found that many headsets at 33mm, I have struggled to find any at that size, are you sure the list is accurate? most threaded are 39mm with a few hard to find ones down at 37