Thanks to all who offered advice, and sympathy... and parts. Especially parts.

After some slow reps of file, fit, fail, repeat, the cartridge slipped through the frame. After greasing everything that touches anything else anywhere, and tightening things down from both sides, and then letting it all sit and get acquainted, and then giving everything a last, light taste of the wrench, I had this:

Non-drive, non-problematic side.


Very problematic drive side. The orange isn't rust, it's orange nail polish.


I then walked away from the bike, the tools, the room, and the apartment. Went outside. Walked around the 'hood. Came home. Greased tapers, greased bolts, installed crankset:



And then, because this is this project, and because it's being done by me, another snag.

The Campy Nuovo Gran Sport front derailleur won't swing the big ring. Hell, it won't even swing the middle ring.

Get mad. Get Campy 980 rear derailleur out of parts box. Install derailleur.

At least we've got a 39/26 double. I guess that 9 millimeters makes a difference, neh?

I guess I'll need a real triple front derailleur. Given the experience I just had, I don't want to go much shorter than this, at least not on the drive side:


There's just a little bit of taper showing between the arm and the lockring. Before, there was none... the flange on the arm almost touched the BB.

Lots more room on the left, don't know why:


BB sizing is still a bit of a mystery, even after 35 years. The Sheldon List sez 113-118, so at 116mm, I'm right in the middle. But the front derailleur doesn't like the triple anymore. Oh, well. Sometimes, when your pushing tolerances, they line up the right way, and you win. Other times, they don't, and you lose.

At least I've got a rideable bicycle.

Anybody got recommendations for a front derailleur? 48/39/26, 8 speed drive, 9 speed rings, friction shift, can be silver or black.

--Shannon