Yes, it is a three piece crank, but the big ring IS part of the spiders...not molded but press fit or something. Last night I was thinking about cutting the hub out and rebuilding around a flip flop. Tire width is not much of an issue as I plan on making this a fun bike, not a race machine at all, basically a "grocery getter."
I was planning on using the front branke for sure.
I'm going to stop at my LBS to see what I can find today...maybe they have some of these parts lying around, but I doubt it.
PJ