Tab, 1 1/2 Radius, 5/16 Hole

OVERVIEW

When you''re deep in the middle of a custom chassis build or reinforcing your off-road warrior, the quality of your fabrication components can make or break the project. The EMPI Tab with a 1 1/2 inch radius and a 5/16 inch hole (FAB-3096) is a precision-engineered piece of hardware designed for the serious air-cooled VW enthusiast and off-road fabricator. At Appletree Auto, we know that generic, flimsy tabs just won''t cut it when you''re jumping dunes or navigating technical trails. These heavy-duty steel tabs are specifically designed to provide a robust mounting point for everything from light bars and body panels to limit straps and interior accessories. The 1 1/2 inch radius is perfectly contoured to sit flush against 3-inch outer diameter (OD) tubing, ensuring a maximum surface area for a penetrate, high-strength weld that looks as professional as it performs.

Choosing the right fabrication tab is about more than just finding a piece of metal with a hole in it; it''s about structural integrity and time-saving precision. These tabs are manufactured from high-quality, weldable mild steel, allowing for clean beads and excellent fusion whether you are using a MIG or TIG setup. The 5/16 inch hole is a versatile size, perfect for standard hardware used in automotive and off-road applications, providing a secure fit for bolts without excessive play. Whether you are building a full-tube sand rail from the ground up, caged a Baja Bug for the desert, or simply adding custom brackets to your Manx-style buggy, these EMPI tabs eliminate the tedious work of hand-cutting and grinding, giving your build a uniform, factory-finished appearance that stands up to the rigors of the trail.

FITMENT

While these are universal fabrication components, they are most commonly utilized in the following applications and vehicle types:

• Custom Sand Rails: Ideal for frame mounting points on 3-inch OD main structural tubing.
• Baja Bugs: Perfect for roll cage additions, bumper fabrication, and auxiliary light mounting.
• Dune Buggies: Used for securing floor pans, fuel tank straps, and throttle cable brackets.
• Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle: Often used in custom engine cages and rear torsion housing reinforcements.
• Off-Road Race Cars: Suitable for non-critical structural tie-downs and body panel fastening.
• Tubing Compatibility: Specifically radiused for 3.0-inch Outer Diameter (OD) round tubing.

SPECS

• Manufacturer: EMPI
• Part Number: FAB-3096 (Cross-reference: 16-1132-0)
• Material: Heavy-duty weldable mild steel
• Radius: 1 1/2 inches (Matches 3" OD Tubing)
• Hole Diameter: 5/16 inches
• Total Height: 2 1/4 inches
• Thickness: Precision gauge steel for high-stress durability
• Finish: Raw steel (Requires cleaning and coating after welding)
• Quantity: Sold individually

PRO TIPS

1. Proper Surface Preparation for Superior Welds

Since these tabs are shipped in raw steel, they may have a light coating of oil or minor surface oxidation to prevent rust during shipping. Before you even think about striking an arc, you must clean the tab and the mating tube surface thoroughly. Use a flap disc or wire wheel to take both surfaces down to shiny, bare metal. Follow this up with a wipe-down using acetone or a dedicated wax and grease remover. Removing these contaminants ensures deep weld penetration and prevents porosity, which is vital for the safety of your VW''s chassis components. Don''t skip this step, or you risk a brittle weld that could fail under the vibrations of off-road use.

2. Use Alignment Bolts for Perfectly Parallel Tabs

If you are using two of these tabs to create a double-shear mounting point (such as for a shock mount or a heavy-duty bracket), alignment is everything. To keep the tabs perfectly parallel and the holes aligned during the welding process, slide a 5/16 inch bolt through both tabs with a spacer or the component you intend to mount in between them. Tighten the nut slightly to "sandwich" the assembly against the tube. This prevents the heat from the welding process from warping the metal or pulling the tabs out of alignment. Once you have a solid tack weld on all sides, you can remove the bolt and finish the final beads without worrying about the hardware not fitting later.

3. Heat Management and Corrosion Protection

When welding these tabs to thinner-walled tubing, be mindful of your heat settings. You want enough heat to get a "wet" puddle on the tab, but you don''t want to blow through the tubing. I recommend focusing your arc slightly more on the thicker tab and "washing" the puddle onto the tube. Once the welding is complete and the metal has cooled naturally (never quench fabrication tabs in water as it can make the steel brittle), make sure to apply a high-quality primer and paint or have the entire assembly powder-coated. Because these are raw steel, they will begin to rust almost immediately if left exposed to the elements, especially in the humid environments many VW buggies inhabit.