Body Tab, 7/16 Hole, .085 Thick

OVERVIEW

When you are deep into a custom air-cooled project, whether it is a full-tube chassis sand rail, a rugged Baja Bug, or a classic Manx-style buggy, the integrity of your body mounting points is non-negotiable. The A&A Manufacturing Body Tab (Part # FAB-3061) is the industry standard for fabricators who demand precision and durability without the unnecessary weight of over-engineered brackets. These tabs are specifically engineered with a 7/16-inch hole, which is perfectly sized to accept a standard U-shape clip nut. This configuration allows you to utilize a 1/4-20 bolt for securing body panels, interior tins, or even lightweight accessories. By using a clip nut, you eliminate the risk of stripped threads in your chassis; if a bolt seizes or a thread fails, you simply swap the clip nut and keep moving, making it an essential component for race-prepped Volkswagens that see frequent teardowns.

Crafted from high-quality mild steel, these tabs offer excellent weldability for both MIG and TIG processes, ensuring a deep, structural bond to your roll cage or chassis tubing. At .085 inches thick, they provide the ideal balance between structural rigidity and ease of fitment. You won''t have to worry about the tab flexing under the vibration of a high-revving flat-four engine or the jarring impacts of a desert wash. Because these are sold individually, you can order exactly what you need for your specific build, whether you are just mounting a single fuel pump bracket or plumbing an entire custom interior. At Appletree Auto, we know that a build is only as strong as its smallest weld-on component, and these A&A tabs are the professional''s choice for a clean, reliable, and serviceable finish.

FITMENT

These fabrication tabs are universal weld-on components designed for custom automotive applications. They are most commonly used on the following air-cooled VW and off-road platforms:

• Volkswagen Beetle: Ideal for mounting fiberglass Baja fenders, hoods, and decklids.
• Sand Rails & Dune Buggies: Fits all major brands including Chenowth, Berrien, and custom chromoly or mild steel frames.
• Volkswagen Type 2 Bus: Useful for custom interior cabinetry mounts or auxiliary battery trays in camper conversions.
• Meyers Manx & Clones: Perfect for securing the fiberglass body to the shortened chassis or perimeter cage.
• Race Cars: Used extensively in drag racing and off-road racing for mounting lightweight aluminum dash panels and door inserts.
• Universal Fabrication: Can be welded to any mild steel surface including 1-1/2 inch, 1-5/8 inch, and 1-3/4 inch tubing.

SPECS

Below are the technical specifications for the FAB-3061 Body Tab to ensure it meets your fabrication requirements:

• Manufacturer: A&A Manufacturing
• Part Number: FAB-3061
• Material: High-quality Mild Steel
• Thickness: .085 Inch (Approximately 13-14 Gauge)
• Hole Diameter: 7/16 Inch
• Hardware Compatibility: Fits U-shape Nut / Clip Nut for 1/4-20 Bolts
• Finish: Raw Steel (Requires painting or plating after welding to prevent oxidation)
• Quantity: Sold Individually (Sold Each)
• Application: Weld-on installation only

PRO TIPS

1. Prep for Perfection

Before you spark the welder, ensure that the area on your chassis where the tab will be mounted is ground down to shiny, bare metal. Even though these tabs are high-quality mild steel, any mill scale, paint, or rust on your tubing will contaminate the weld, leading to porosity and potential failure. Use a flap disc for a smooth finish. Additionally, we recommend cleaning the tab itself with a quick wipe of acetone or brake cleaner to remove any residual oils from the manufacturing process. This ensures your TIG or MIG beads are stack-of-piles clean and structurally sound.

2. Mockup with the Hardware

One of the best ways to ensure perfect alignment of your body panels is to mock up the tab with the U-nut and bolt already in place. Slide your 1/4-20 clip nut onto the tab and bolt it to your body panel or tin work first. Then, hold the panel in its final position and tack-weld the tab to the frame. This "reversed" assembly method ensures that the hole in your body panel aligns perfectly with the tab, preventing the frustration of "stretching" fiberglass or forcing bolts into misaligned holes later on.

3. Manage the Heat

Because these tabs are .085 inches thick, they can be susceptible to warping if you put too much heat into them too quickly, especially when welding to thicker-walled chassis tubing. Use short, controlled tacks on both sides of the tab before laying your final bead. If you are welding several tabs in a row for a long body panel, jump around from one end to the other rather than welding them sequentially. This dissipates the heat across the frame and prevents the tabs from "pulling" out of alignment as the metal cools and contracts.