Single Speed mountain biking?

I need a few parts. Let me know if you can help me.

I'm restoring an old bike, I don't need all new parts. What I'm looking for.

Brakes. Any old V-brakes will do. I'm thinking Shimano Deore or LX. Let me know what you've got. If you've got a pair of the old (10yrs?) Avid Tri-Align 3 cantilever brakes, let me know. If you've got some Paul's Love Levers from the mid nineties, I'll do pretty much anything you ask to get them. Old XTR or XT levers would be sweet too.

Fork. I'd like a suspension fork on this. It has a 100% seized up old Quadra. The elastomers are petrified. This fork wasn't much better brand new though. I'd like something newer and more functional. By no means does it need to be fancy. Something low maintenace. An old Manitou 4 with the steel spring conversion would be perfect. One of the old linkage forks would be awesome too. Let me know what you've got. The steerer is 1 1/8" and needs to be 10" long or longer. Or if you want to get me something fancy, imagine a triple clamp DH fork on a steel hardtail single speed...hmmm...

Riser Bar. Remember that 1/4" thick Answer handlebar? I would love one of those. If you've got a quality mountain riser though, I could use it.

Stem. This one is a long shot but I'll ask. Anyone got an Answer A-Tac Stem in 1/ 1/8" threadless? God those were hideous. It would be perfect. I don't need a new stem but damn those were glorious.

I would kill for some vintage Kooka DH cranks. I don't want vintage regular Kooka cranks, I broke too many of those and I weigh more now. Or the Tubular ones, I think they were Cook Bros.

I would be interested in discussing the price of a White Industries SS hub (the one that totally eliminates the need for a chain tensioner) though I don't really need it for this setup.

I'm not looking for your new or almost new parts that you want almost retail on. I can get all the new crap for wholesale. I'm looking for used but not broken stuff ready to begin it's journey through reincarnation.

I'll probably end up getting a dedicated SS crank that comes with a 38tooth ring. What would be a good size for the rear? I'm thinking probably around 18-20, should get me up most hills and down most. Ideas? My SS experience is road at 51-20, 51-17, and 48-16, all fixed. I'm not too sure where I should be at with a mountain bike.

I may have an old Judy SL fork that will work depending on the length of steer tube you have. I have found that using a suspension fork on a single speed can waste valuable energy when climbing up hills. As far as gears go I use a 32 x 17. This gear ratio works well, anything bigger than a 17 will leave you spinning like mad in the flats. I'll look around in my shed tonight to see if I have anything else you might want.

I measured my fork and the steer tube is too short for your needs. I do have a stem but not the A-Tac. On my first single speed I used an old shimano 600 rear derailluer for a chain tensioner. This worked way better than the aftermarket chain tensioners. I tweaked the singulator pretty bad within less than six months.

I've just started the single speed thing and converted my old Trek mountain bike into a single speed. I used the forte single speed kit to take care of the back end. Up front I have a triple chainring but i need to replace that as the thread where the pedal goes is stuffed. On the way home from work today it finding died.

My setup is a 44 up front and 18 on the back and it seems to suit my commute well. Its about 10-12 miles and undulating. Downhill to work, uphill heading home. i never thought that not having gears could be so much fun, but I'm finding that I'm riding this old bike more than my tricked out Mtn bike.

Anyhow, where can I get a single speed crankset that doesn't cost a fortune? I'm looking for something like this: 38-44 tooth, 3/32, 170 - 175mm. I don't want to have to buy another bottom bracket unless I have too...

I've asked at my local bike shops and performance and people think I'm nuts.

Anyhow have any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

John