3/16in Radius Tabs 4pk 1/2in Hole ALL60002

OVERVIEW

When you''re in the middle of a ground-up chassis build or reinforcing a classic Baja Bug for the desert, the quality of your fabrication components can make or break the project. These Allstar Performance 3/16-inch radius tabs are the gold standard for air-cooled VW enthusiasts and off-road fabricators who demand precision and structural integrity. Instead of spending hours at the bench grinder trying to replicate identical mounts from scrap plate, these pre-cut mild steel tabs provide a professional, uniform finish to any roll cage, suspension mount, or custom accessory bracket. They are specifically designed to save you time in the shop while ensuring that your weld-on points are robust enough to handle the vibration and stress inherent in off-road environments.

The radius design of these tabs isn''t just about aesthetics; it provides essential clearance and reduces snag points on your chassis, which is critical when navigating tight trails or working in the cramped quarters of a Volkswagen engine bay. Crafted from high-quality mild steel, these tabs offer excellent weldability, allowing for deep penetration and a secure bond to your tubing or plate steel. Whether you are mounting a custom fuel cell in a sand rail, securing seat belts in a Manx-style buggy, or fabricating shock mounts for a long-travel front end, these 1/2-inch hole tabs provide the heavy-duty foundation needed for a "built-not-bought" machine that can actually take a beating. At Appletree Auto, we know that the small details define the overall quality of a build, and these Allstar tabs are the secret weapon for a clean, race-ready finish.

FITMENT

While these are universal fabrication components, they are most commonly utilized in the following air-cooled VW and off-road applications:

• Volkswagen Beetle: Ideal for custom roll cages and suspension reinforcements for all years (1940s-1979).
• Volkswagen Baja Bug: Perfect for mounting light bars, external coolers, and heavy-duty bumpers.
• Sand Rails & Dune Buggies: Essential for chassis construction, seat mounts, and tab-and-slot fabrication.
• Volkswagen Bus (Type 2): Used for custom rack mounts and interior structural reinforcements.
• Karmann Ghia: Suitable for custom engine bracing and performance suspension upgrades.
• Meyers Manx & Clones: Provides secure mounting points for fiberglass body supports to the metal subframe.
• Custom Tube Chassis: Designed to fit a wide variety of tubing diameters for off-road racing and recreational use.

SPECS

• Material: High-Quality Mild Steel for superior weldability.
• Thickness: Heavy-duty 3/16-inch plate (0.1875").
• Hole Diameter: Precision-drilled 1/2-inch (0.500") center hole.
• Profile Type: Radius (Rounded) top for a clean look and reduced interference.
• Quantity: Sold as a convenient 4-pack to cover multiple mounting points.
• Manufacturer: Allstar Performance.
• Part Number: ALL60002.
• Finish: Raw steel (Requires painting or plating after welding to prevent corrosion).

PRO TIPS

1. Master the Prep for Maximum Strength

Before you even think about striking an arc, you must properly prep these mild steel tabs. While they arrive clean, they often have a thin layer of mill scale or oil to prevent rust during shipping. Use a flap disc or a dedicated wire wheel to grind the welding surface of the tab down to shiny, bare metal. Do the same for the tubing or plate where the tab will be attached. This ensures a contaminant-free weld pool, preventing porosity and ensuring that the 3/16-inch steel fully fuses with your chassis. Remember, in a high-vibration VW engine bay or off-road environment, a "pretty" weld that hasn''t penetrated the base metal will eventually fail.

2. Use the "Dummy Bolt" Technique for Alignment

If you are using these tabs in pairs to create a mounting clevis (such as for a shock mount or a limit strap), alignment is everything. If the holes don''t line up perfectly, you''ll never get your 1/2-inch grade 8 bolt through them once the metal cools. To prevent "heat pull" or warping during the welding process, slide a sacrificial bolt through both tabs with a spacer (of the same width as your mounting eyelet) in between them. Tighten the nut slightly to lock the tabs in perfect parallel alignment. Tack-weld both sides, remove the bolt and spacer to prevent them from getting stuck, and then finish your final beads.

3. Manage Your Heat Cycles

Because these tabs are 3/16-inch thick, they can soak up a significant amount of heat. When welding them to thinner-wall tubing common in many VW buggies, you want to focus the majority of your arc heat on the thicker tab and then "wash" the weld puddle over onto the tubing. This prevents blowing a hole through your chassis while ensuring the tab is properly anchored. If you are welding several tabs in a row, jump around the chassis rather than doing them all at once. This keeps the localized heat down and prevents the tubing from warping or losing its structural temper, keeping your build straight and true.