Live Wire, your analysis of why my stays are bent could not possibly be correct, because it was an entirely different bicycle (the Barracuda in back of the photo) which was repaired the first time! Surely no need to cut two inches off, still think it's essential that I cut any at all? It's only about 1/2" that's bent, and again, NOT annealed; work hardened. I've already got two pieces of 3"x3"x1/4" 1018, a cross-slide vise and a couple end mills, so I could probably etch-a-sketch myself up some custom dropouts. Otherwise, those Henry James conversion track ends might just be the ticket. Thanks for the replies, guys.
Last edited by Thasiet; 09-06-08 at 09:02 AM.