Just wondering if there’s any way a near layman with access to basic tools in home shop (welding power supply (scarcely used this one), drill, angle grinder, etc.) can replace rear fork dropouts on a 26” retro MTB (chrome-moly frame setup). I want semi-horizontal dropouts instead of vertical ones like the ones in the pictures below. The semi-horizontal dropouts are to be used with a Rohloff IGH (rim brake version) and I really don’t want a chain tensioner or an eccentric bottom-bracket. There are many ads with nice retro MTBs where I’m based, but almost none of them have semi-horizontal dropouts and if they have them the bikes don’t fit the bill for other reasons. So that’s why I started to think about buying an MTB I like and DIY-converting it to semi-horizontal dropouts. I don’t have an easy access to a frame builder. The best option to me would be semi-horizontal dropouts with a hanger for a derailleur to be able to use a wheel with either an IGH or a derailleur drive train.

I don’t consider myself an absolute layman when it comes to tinkering with bicycles but here I’m a bit sceptical, as it seems some expertise, knowledge and experience are needed to do it, but maybe I’m not privy to something .