Advice on modernising a 90s Marin

An early 90s mtb non suspension would have an axle-crown height in the order of 395mm. A Fox F100 from 2002 has an axle crown height of 470mm. RS Mag 21 long travel is in the order of 420mm.

Older forks were much shorter overall and a modern long-travel fork is both longer overall as well as the travel.

I’ve run 80mm travel Fox forks on my 1995 DBR Axis and 1996 Hei Hei without issue as they have quite steep head tubes. I wouldn’t go longer though,
With the fork I’m not really bothered about it being period correct (although if that’s what will work best and not too expensive, I’m also not against it) but will most forks from later be too long even if they are shorter travel (60-80mm)? I’ve got some 63mm travel judys on the way from eBay. I think (hope) they are about 420mm ish axle to crown but I’ll just have to measure them and see when they arrive . I’d guess they are late 1990s early 2000s.
Like a few people have said I realise this frame probably isn’t ideal for modernising in this way but I had it and wanted something to ride off-road, if I see something more suitable on eBay I may just build the marin as it was and do this project with a new frame. Thanks for the info on the BB I actually did think when the chainrings were on the bike that they looked very close to the stays so would make sense if someone has put the wrong the size BB in it. And I guess a difference of 1 or 2 mm won’t matter too much on the BB axle length for the specialized if I can’t find a 73x111mm bottom bracket? I’m going to put that one back together as it was…eventually
 
There’s no real rules..original mountain biking spirit was all about experimenting. If the modernised old bike feels good that’s all that matters.
 
My next stupid question: can you put folding tyres onto an old rim? I’m reading about hooked rims and wondering if the tyre I just bought isn’t going to go on (or maybe stay on?) the Mavic x517 I have…
 
X517 are a pretty standard construction. Folding tyres will be fine....the only difference is the bead construction.....it being steel on a non folder and kevlar or something on a folder.

Folding tend to be lighter and have slightly more pliable ride characteristics...and more costly!
 
X517 are a pretty standard construction. Folding tyres will be fine....the only difference is the bead construction.....it being steel on a non folder and kevlar or something on a folder.

Folding tend to be lighter and have slightly more pliable ride characteristics...and more costly!
Oh good, I didn’t want to have to put anything else back on eBay 😅. I got a fancy schwalbe nobby nic evo tyre and a less fancy non folding but slightly wider nobby nic for the front. Also some 770mm bars and nice grips and (hopefully, if I win it on eBay) a shimano zee 1x10 drivetrain including cranks, shifter, derailleur , casette and bottom bracket. Which leads me to my next question, is there anything I need to consider when putting a modern crankset on an old bike? Obviously the old one is square taper and this is…two piece, I don’t really know the correct terms ? I think the bottom bracket is a shimano saint hollow tech. I’ve only ever removed and installed square taper bottom brackets but I’m hoping this zee groupset will fit an old frame ok and not be too difficult to work out 🤞
 
Had a change of plan and I’m now going to reassemble the marin more as it was and use this frame instead . The paint is in better nick than the Eldridge grade and being slightly newer I thought it might be more suitable 11070386-7036-4094-AF83-1EFF3550A8F0.jpeg
 

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