Help identifying my Cannondale frame

[Diepstor]

Hi All,
I was gifted with a bike frame and was told it's a Cannondale. The frame has been stripped of all decals and painted over. I was able to scrape off the paint and took a picture of the serial number. I am not able to identify it.

Please help.

 

[black lightning 1987]

That serial number/placement doesn't seem to match any of the systems that Cannondale used. Pictures of the frame would help. Does it take 26" wheels?

 

[Diepstor]

Here are more pics. It looks like it will accept a 26".

 

[black lightning 1987]

I believe it's an F Series frame, XL size, from 1995 or later. I haven't owned any similar frames, closest I have is a 1995 M900. There may be some differences in tube diameters for the mid to late 90s F frames, but I don't have access to any to measure. Another angle would be to research the fork. Some models had adjustments or lock-out, others did not. Post a pic of the top of the steerer, above the stem.

 

[MikeA]

I don't see disc mounts, so its a CAAD2 or CAAD3 frame. CAAD3 had a tapered down tube, this one looks straight in the pics, so this would most likely be a CAAD2 frame from '96 to maybe '99.

 

[black lightning 1987]

I don't see disc mounts, so its a CAAD2 or CAAD3 frame. CAAD3 had a tapered down tube, this one looks straight in the pics, so this would most likely be a CAAD2 frame from '96 to maybe '99.

I agree up to a point, but it could be a 1995 3.0 frame. They had the wishbone seat stay and I believe the down tube had a constant OD. 1995 2.8 frames had tapered diameter down tubes.

 

[MikeA]

I agree up to a point, but it could be a 1995 3.0 frame. They had the wishbone seat stay and I believe the down tube had a constant OD. 1995 2.8 frames had tapered diameter down tubes.

That could be, I was taking the fork into account. The earlier bikes had more ribs on the boot, but it could have been repaired with a newer boot, and it may not even be the original fork.