Bicycle Mechanics - Nexus hub w/ stamped dropouts

In the parts pile I have an old road frame with stamped horizontal dropouts, and a wheel with a Nexus 8sp hub. This sounds like the makings of a winter beater.

Question is, will the stamped dropouts be able to take the load from the hub's anti-turn washers? I started to have visions of the metal splaying open but I'm not certain if that's an issue if the axle nuts are torqued properly. Thoughts?

How heavy are you?
Depending on the condition of the frame you will probably be fine, unless you are 200+, then a bad frame combined with high torque might cause issues. But for a winter beater I wouldn't worry much cuz I'm sure it would be a slow ride on a bad weather day, not cranking like a sunny and 75 ride.

Shouldn't be an issue. Once everything is tightened up, the hub isn't going anywhere. 3-speeds has been used for years with anti-rotation washers and I haven't seen or heard of any unusual wear or dropouts spreading. If you have that much power, the hub will probably fall apart/break first.

The only problem I have heard of along this line was using an OEM2 configuration Rohloff hub with track type dropouts. The anti rotation key on that configuration of Rohloff hub started to spread the dropout. The owner ended up reconfiguring his hub to use the anti rotation torque arm. The owner of the bike is the owner of the LBS where I bought my Rohloff hub equipped bike.

Due to the ultra low lowest gear on the Rohloff hub the hub rotation torque can be much greater than with other gear hubs. This is covered in the hub manual.

3-speeds has been used for years with anti-rotation washers

+1

3-Speeds were what first came to my mind when I read your question. A lot of three speeds had pretty thin dropouts and this was never a problem. Make sure your hub is tightened properly...

...and make sure you have the correct anti-rotation washers (http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/shimano-nexus.html#washers) for your frame configuration.

Most of the torque will be generated from a standing start, so max stress will occur right then....esp if you mash it or are hauling a lot of weight (panniers, groceries, a couple of kegs...lol...j/k). If you are worried, then take it easy until you get rolling.

Hello are the dropouts thicker than the portion of the noturn washers that is designed to go in the slot? aside from that unless you apply too much force from a stop I see no problem.

I've never experienced a problem from anti rotation washers in a stamped steel dropout. The only related problem I have had was the washers themselves. I had a Sachs super 7 that I literally tore up the washer (it had only one) on while cranking up a good climb. The dropout was stamped, and was none the worse for wear afterward.
The Shimano anti rotation washers are very robust in comparison, and I've never had a problem with them.
3 of my 5 gearhub equipped bikes have stamped dropouts.