Fitted the DropOut Saver today and cabled up the brakes and gears. I've fitted XT V brakes and levers, Deore 9 speed front/rear mechs and shifters, Chainset is an old LX one I got cheap off of STW forum. Apart from a little spacing issue on the rear hub (the chain was catching the dropout, I've moved a washer from one side of the hub to the other) and the stripped drop out I've not hit many issues. I bought a new seatpost from eBay as the old one was stuck in the frame and was damaged on removal, but I didn't realise until after buying that its coming from China! Next will be a complete strip down again now I'm happy it will work so I can proceed to the next stage.
Paintwork is my next job, so far I've spent less than £60, the bike is supposed to be a hack for my son and I'm reluctant to spend a lot getting the frame sprayed/powder coated and looking mint to attract the wrong element when it's locked up outside, so I'm now thinking along the lines of a deep clean, I've tried some wet'n'dry paper on the worst of the scratches and they have gone leaving a fresh matt finish. If I can find a cheap touch up for the orange paint I may just touch it up all over and then flatten back with 1200 grit paper, some of the decals need replacing, I've saved the Tange sticker for refitting later.