Looking at your pictures, it seems clear that the steer tube is too long for that head tube, but not all is lost.
If it's a 1 inch steerer and you measure everything correctly, you should be able to trim the steer tube so it correctly matches a C-record headset.
Will the seller tell you the headtube length and the steer tube length? The difference must be greater than or equal to the stack height of the C-record headset.
There are special fixtures for holding forks in a vise and guiding a saw to precisely cut the steer tube length. I think I've seen one on the Park Tool website. Threading tools also exist. A local shop that repairs frames or has deep experience probably has one. Whether there is anyone who can use one, and is not in retirement, is a good question. But, frames get repaired and steer tube threads get restored.
On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 11:06 AM, <paul.ozzello@b2b2c.ca> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm interested in a late 80's Bianchi but the fork steerer just seems too
> long.
> The seller's bike has a 57cm frame with a fork marked 59.
>
> http://gallery.me.com/
>
> I have several vintage Bianchis from the 70s and the frame size always
> matches
> the number stamped on the fork.
>
> I've mostly gotten the run-around from the seller:
>
> "there's no other bike like it"
> "I got it from a racer who got it from a racer"
> "don't buy it if you don't trust me"
> "As you well know a C-Record headset is taller"
>
> he then proceeds to send me a picture of the frame when it had a mishmash
> of
> campy/shimano parts, and a shimano headset stacked full of spacers!
>
> Could a fork this long have actually come stock on this bike? Could the
> fork be
> safely cut to the appropriate length? I haven't seen many Bianchis like it
> so
> I'm assuming it wasn't sold in North America. I know it's a bit off topic
> but
> it would have been the perfect frame for a C-Record build. What is such a
> frame
> worth?
>
> If anyone has one for sale, I'm interested!
>
> Paul Ozzello
> Montreal, Quebec
> Canada
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
--
Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA