Bmx bottom Bracket on a road bike????
 

does this work? in my lil brain I believe it would. I don't feel like buying a new bottom bracket & crankset online. I figure if I can just find an old BMX bike on craigslist for $40 and take the three piece cranks off of it I could just put it on my old schwinn road conversions....

You're talking about replacing a one piece crank, right? I've never tried it but I suspect that it would fit providing the bottom bracket shell widths are the same. That's a big assumption - I'd want to do the measuring myself.

I'd be concerned about chainline issues. Assuming you're putting it on a derailleur geared bike the chain probably isn't going to fit on the BMX chainring either.

Finally, if you've never installed a BMX 3-piece crankset, the first time can be an interesting experience.

I have, in my experience there are teeth that you slide the cranks onto... kinda like the cassettes on the back wheel.
it's for a schwinn le tour, late 80's

That's not the interesting part. The bearings press into the bottom bracket shell, the spindle presses into the bearings and there's a cut-to-fit spacer that fits between the bearings. I used to put the parts into the freezer for awhile before trying to fit them together.

wow, crazy idea.

I' guess I'll just try it & see what happens... cuz I want the levers, and I'd spend that much just on the levers.

I hope it works out... just a $40 risk can't hurt.