The build that never returned... kernel-2.6.4-1.286

[Harry Putnam]

Building a custom version of kernel-2.6.4-1.286 this morning, after 

   make xconfig
   make
   make modules_install install

I never get the prompt back... the last lines I see:

if [ -r System.map ]; then /sbin/depmod -u -ae -F System.map  2.6.4-1.286custom; fi
  Using /usr/src/linux-2.6.4-1.286 as source for kernel
make[2]: `arch/i386/kernel/asm-offsets.s' is up to date.
  CHK     include/linux/compile.h
Kernel: arch/i386/boot/bzImage is ready
sh /usr/src/linux-2.6.4-1.286/arch/i386/boot/install.sh
  2.6.4-1.286custom arch/i386/boot/bzImage System.map "" 

Needs a ^C, but only after a very long time since earlier gives this
output:
  [[Amake[2]: *** [install] Interrupt
  make[1]: *** [install] Interrupt
  make: *** [install] Interrupt

After a lengthy wait and then `^C'.  
I notice that /boot/grub/grub.conf  has not been rewritten to include
the new kernel as is usually the case.

Now I'm wondering what else may not be getting finished.

Anyone seeing similar phenomena?