Current Projects chat and miscellany

Hi, newish to the forum. My first fixed gear project. I have a few questions (hopefully got the correct thread).....

I bought this Peogeot road bike for €25. I've identified it as a 1983 PSV10 which I think was at the top end of their range that year...

Does the rear axel look like it is far enough in the dropouts? The chain was a bit slack when it was fully in so I removed another link and now it's only just in. The axel is fully in the dropout but the nut doesn't have 100% contact.

1) If i run a half link 1/8 chain to improve tension on a 32/3 sprocket and chainring will it rattle about? - you only need one half link, a whole chain made of half links won't give you any more adjustability. and you can get them in 3/32(i think)

I've got 42 chainring / 14 sprocket which I have a feeling might be too high (80.2 gear inches) so the dropout problem might be solved I guess by increasing the rear sproket size. - if you increase the rear sprocket size you'll effectively shorten the chain so you'll need to add more links

2) I have to put the chainring on the middle ring space on the crack to get the best chainline. Works OK but could look better. Is it possible to change the axel spacing on the BB? I don't think its a cartridge... It's a flip flop hub so I don't want to respace/redish the wheel. - just get a cartridge BB a couple or so mm shorter than the one you have already, they're pretty cheap, around £15

3) THe stem is an Atax stem. I read somewhere about these failing? Is it advised to replace this? - i wouldn't know

4) The stem wont go any lower into the steerer as shown in lowest position in the picture. Do you think this is due to the taper of the stem? Or if i cut an inch off will it go down further? - if you cut an inch off you'll lose the expansion area of the stem that engages with the steerer. - you'd be better off trying to work out if there is something thats blocking the stem inside the steerer

Any other advice based on the photos would be appreciated. Cheers

Hope this helps