fender clearance

Hi everyone,
I am currently building a Speedster, and I noticed that the rear fender clearance is minimal for the stock 15x5.5 VW rims on 165x15 tires. There is barely one inch clearance from the side of the tire to the fender. The previous owner shaved down the fender lip to add space, but I would like to 'glass the lip back. Is this normal clearance? My chassis is from a 1973 Beetle with IRS. I would appreciate any help or suggestions to add more space.

Thanks. Arnold

Arnold ,

Do a search here on this topic as there have been many previous discussions on this subject.
A CMC / FiberFab body usually has minimal clearance and is closer tothe tire on one side than the other .
Sounds like the previous owner compensated for this problem

Hi Alan,
Thank you for responding. Is there a way to identify the company that built the body? Not that it is important, but I would like a reference for future part purchases. I was considering mounting aftermarket wheels for the car, but I would have to stay with the standard wheel width or order offset wheels. Lastly, I plan to wire the car myself and I saw the responses on the forum on wiring. In addition to the purchasing a wiring harness from Kirk, would I need to purchase additional items not in the wiring kit? Does the harness use the new flat fuses or the round clear ones? I am planning to run the basic electrical items only. Simplicity is always the best.

Thanks again.

Arnold

Best to post some pics of your speedster there are a few details that may make it possible to identify it..

In the past the fuse block comes prewired and has ATC blade type fuse holders and not the glass or VW ceramic type but best to check with Kirk at VS for the details of the harness / fuseblock available ..the one that I have used a number of times from VS has been a breeze to install.

You will need to purchase a headlight dimmer switch , horn and headlight relay, flasher.

Alan

One of the builders needs to come up with a body that's about 2-3" wider from one outside wheel-well edge to the other. It wouldn't be enough of a change to be visually noticable, but it sure would allow for a greater choice of rear tires/brakes/suspension.

John,
That would take away some of the challenge. Non-flared Speedsters look so cool when the rear camber, wheel spacing, shock towers, spring plates are just right and you get a wide tire to fit.
I'm running short swing axle, stock spring plates, rear discs, psudo porsche 15" alloys (with spacers) and 185 15 tires. Everything clears. The tires miss the body by a pinky fingertip.(about 1/4 in.) Nothing ever rubs.
I did have to cut down the rear shock towers where the bumpers usually go.
I have a set of 16" porsche alloys that I'm playing around with. The rears are 7" wide. I think, if everything is just right. I can get them to fit with 205 55 16 tires.
I may have to change from 7" wide to 6" wide rims and decamber a little more to get the tops of the tires to tuck under the body.
My formula and challenge is:
Tires clear when the car is on the ground.
Jack the rear up off the ground (swing axles droop) and the sidewall of the tops of the tires touch the inner fenderwells (when the camber droops with no load).

Greg B

Alan,
I will contact Kirk and check on the wiring harness. I found a California Registration Tag on the body. I will try to check with DMV to see if the origin is noted. Thanks again for your help. As soon as I get some photos taken, I will post it.
Arnold.

I've noticed that IRS chassis are wider at the rear tires (measuring from wheel to wheel) than a swingaxle; the difference is very noticeable after the body is installed on the chassis.

"Aye, there's the rub!" and I ain't just whistling Shakespeare.
An IRS set up with wide-five disc-brakes makes fitting any tire wider than a 185 (on the back) almost impossible. And if you want a 5.5" wide wheel, well then you have to modify the offset.
A swing-axle is more forgiving in the width tolerances.

VW used "short" axle transmissions on all Beetles built prior to Dec 1966. Since you're already running an IRS trans, it'll be alot of labor trying to reduce the axle length. The difference between long & short axles is 1 1/2-inches The outer axle tubes are all the same length, it's the end casting that equates for the increased length.