A lot of the guys use the 275 fount for their frankies and customs. Often, the way
it's done is to hack off the bottom of the 275 valve and screw it into the fount, then
drill out the center of the threaded stub and tap it so it will fit a valve from a 200A.
This can be done cleanly, without the hacking, and with only hand tools and a fitting
from the hardware store. Check it out.
This thing I'm holding is a 3/8" pipe taper reamer. It makes this job easy. You can get
them at a hardware store that sells plumbing stuff, or from ebay.
You don't have to use this reamer, but it sure works slick.
The reamer will just go into the fitting on the fount about 1/4". Then you turn it with a
wrench (clockwise) until it bottoms out, making a perfectly tapered hole for a 3/8" NPT
fitting.
The reamer will stop when it has cut the right sized taper in the fount bung. It cannot go
in too far.
Always turn a reamer of any kind so that it is cutting, whether going into or out of a hole.
Turning a reamer backwards is the fasted way to ruin one.
Now, grab a standard 3/8" pipe tap. Again, a hardware store, or about $6 on ebay. What you
want is a 3/8" NPT tap. It's nothing special. A common pipe tap.
Start it in the hole made by the reamer, and get to screwing it in. It will cut perfect threads
for what we want. Back it out every couple of turns to break off the chips it's making while
cutting threads.
When you are done, you are going to have metal chips like these inside the fount. Assuming the
fount is empty, remove the fuel cap and put your shop vac sucker end over the fount bung
while shaking it upside down. Most of the chips will get sucked out.
Use the wife's toothbrush to finish cleaning out the threads, then put a pint of fuel in the fount,
slosh it around, and pour it out. This will clean it out pretty well.
Get one of these things for $2.49 from Ace Hardware. It's a 3/8" NPT to 1/8" NPT bushing.
Most real hardware stores will have these things.
Put some sealer on the threads and screw that baby right into the fount fitting, tight.
Get that 200A or 242 valve laying on the bench and drop it in.
A little more thread sealer, and snug up the valve. You might have to modify the F/A tube
to suit you. That done, build your own lantern.
That's it. No lathe, no drill, no saw. Just a wrench. And maybe your feet. Wear the
gray socks, in that case.