lol...nothing around here is all level! it felt tight & all, but there is only so much simulated tugging & vibration I could have done with the bike not built and I'm tool old & not nearly desperate enough to knowingly risk it - which implies I probably do stupid stuff every day where I don't even realize i'm taking a risk. The replacement stem is within reasonable spec and no less cludgy looking on the red & white lugged steel frame w/ the carbon fork as the other was. I'll probably try this out & later on migrate this fork to my wife's '87 Cannondale....where a carbon fork would make more sense in the first place. thanks all for the thoughts + feedback.