But I feel I should close the thread for any other bone heads like me.
The tie rod end threads stick through plenty when you put them in the side they were supposed to go.

I had it stuck in my head I poppeh the outer end out of the top of the tie rod bar. And was very determined to put it in through the top. As I was explaining in detail my problem to a friend and showing him how it fit nicely coming through the bottom of the tie rod bar , I slowed down enough to observe the impossibility of the it ever going in through the top and thus ever coming out of the top of the tie rod bar.

To say the least, the experience gave me a good and much needed attitude adjustment. And there may be a moral here -- never be too certain of what you believe.