*** I considered the steerer could be 22.0 which was, at one point, a French size. The black stem is marked 22.2 though and it fits. I have caliper measured stems and the steerer tube, nothing seems wildly out of place(all within a small margin). ***

I could sand or file out the steerer tube?
I could sand down the stem?
I could throw this project away in frustration because I wont actually ride it nearly enough to justify the time spent?