Quick update on my project: I went to Hampshire Bicycle Exchange today, which I must put in a plug for--the service is friendly and efficient, and they have pretty much any part you could think to look for. Great place. They didn't have any bearing grease in stock so they gave me a little bit to tide me over for free, which I thought was classy.

Anyway, I bought an axle for my rear wheel and some pedals, got the axle home and tried to figure out how to install it on the wheel, and promptly hit another stopping point. Seems I'm missing one of two things, and I'm not sure which: either sufficient spacers on the axle to prevent it from slipping into the body of the hub, or a piece of the hub itself. The axle itself did come with one spacer, but it appears to be meant for use on the other side (not the side with the freewheel). So now I'm not sure if I need to buy a new rear hub or a new wheel, or both.

I'm definitely frustrated, but am appreciating the challenge here--putting this thing together is forcing me to use a part of my brain I'm not accustomed to using!

So that's my update, and I'll keep you guys posted.