[The Fixer]

Well, I have some good news finally. I stopped by a local hardware store today to ask if he had some steel plate. He didn't, but directed me to a welding shop across the street (which I didn't even know existed!) and the guy there had a ton of scrap. He cut me two pieces of 3/16" steel in a 3"x4" rectangle, smoothed all the edges, and only charged me $5. I climbed into the trunk after I got home and they fit perfectly, so I just need to drill the holes and I should be in business. Woohoo!