serial resistor challenge

I agree with Sparks about using a pot if you need that kind of accuaracy. How about posting a schematic, or describing it?

However I do have everyone of the 73 1Ohm to 1Meg 5% Carbon Film values!

73 different values from 1 ohm to 1Megaohm? What's that, like one of each in the E12 series (72 values)? You can approximate the value somewhat by combining series and parallel resistances.

For instance a 4.7k and a 5.6k in parallel gives 2.555 k ohm.

Or better, a 1.0 k ohm resistance in series with two resistors in paralell with values 2.7 k ohm and 3.3 k ohm, gives a closer 2.485 k ohm resistance.