Bicycle Mechanics - raleigh chainline

Hi, I have a beater raleigh technium 440 that Im riding right now while building up a decent road machine. For the most part, it gets the job done, although it has 80's aquamarine paint. However, there seems to be a problem with the chainline. Im running a crankset on it that didnt come with the bike, a sugino GLP set, and Ive noticed that the chainring-side crank sits out a bit further from the bottom bracket shell than the left side crank does. This is annoying for several reasons: One, its probably not good for my knees, two, Im always shifting around on the saddle trying to center myself, and three, the bike has an exceptionally annoying tendency to not want to stay in the large chainring. I think this is probably attributed to the fact that the big ring is sitting a little further out than it should be perhaps. Anyway, Im looking for a way to remedy this. Im thinking that the taper on the bottom bracket spindle might be wrong for the sugino crankset. Is this right? If it is, is it possible to install a new spindle in the current bottom bracket to accept the sugino crank? Lastly, if the above doesn't work, Im willing to buy a new bottom bracket. Im just clueless on what to look for. I do most of the work on my bikes, but bottom brackets seem to be something of a black art to me. What are some bottom brackets that will work with a sugino crank?
Sorry for the long post, I just need to sort this out, its driving me insane.

anyone? Bueller?.....

bottom brackets can be really cheap, if you're not looking for parts that will win the tour de france or run for 100000 miles.

seems to me you should consider a new bottom bracket, since cheap ones sell for 12$ US or so.

also, i assume you've eliminated the possibility of shifting problems being a matter of your derailer being out of adjustment, or your shifter (if friction shifter) not being tight enough. but if you haven't, check that.

another thing-- if it were my bike i wouldn't worry about the asymmetry (on the order of 5 millimeters?) hurting my knees. I have an old unisex saddle and I can't sit centered on it to begin with, but I think the most important thing for my knees is just for me to be conscious of the pressures on them and not to ride with my knees or feet twisted or pulled in or out. (in other words, don't use pressure on your knees from your leg muscles to keep you balanced, use your arms and slight shifts of weight.

Sheldon's website (www.sheldonbrown.com) has some data on recommended distances from chainrings to seat tube center. A few BBs, such as Campag. Athenas, have lockrings on both sides (i.e., there is no "fixed" cup), which would permit you to recenter the crankset as desired.

Thanks for the responses, Im going to check out the sheldonbrown/harris cyclery website.

anyone? Bueller?.....

Must applaud you on your 'user name', "user name". :)
I thought I had the wit to come up with stuff like that, but I obviously didn't. :rolleyes:

Must applaud you on your 'user name', "user name". :)
I thought I had the wit to come up with stuff like that, but I obviously didn't. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the warm welcome, this forum is great. Wish I would have found it sooner.