Originally Posted by Poguemahone
Don't bother with the re-threading unless you are desperate. Here's what I do on these particular Peugeots and their semi-troublesome bottom brackets. I go and find myself a Japanese made, french threaded bottom bracket. These were made by Sugino and Sakae, as well as the ever-present Shimano. The reason is simple: the Japanese made bottom brackets have a thicker wall than the Nervar made ones that were standard on your bicycle. They can accommodate a variety of spindles from Japanese cranksets, which greatly increases the number of cranks you can easily use. In addition, they tend to be cheaper $$$ wise than Euro French threaded stuff; if you want to spend money, find an old Stronglight bottom bracket for French bikes (I certainly wouldn't stick a Stronglight on a lower end ride like a UO/UE8. Save them for a PX10, or a Lejeune Professional, or a Rene Herse, the last of which you'd be insane to convert to a fixie anyhoo). You can buy the Japanese French cups from your LBS for about 55$ (they are still made), but I'd wait for some on ebuy.
Why exactly do you advise against rethreading to Italian? There are plenty Italian thread BBs available today, options galore, without the detective work, sleuthing and waiting around your other options require. You don't say where you go to get these Japanese French thread BBs, but up here in BFE Idaho they are just not available. But I have found a shop that has experience rethreading to Italian, and the options opened up once that is done are breathtaking. Or is it just the cost of the operation for a mid range bike that's the problem?