1973 Ghia Questions - Plenty of Questions...

****I edited the original Title of this thread so that I could Recycle it as a general Questions thead...
-Just being Green....*****
Everyone,
I am going to go and look at a 1973 ghia and plan to flat tow it home.
I have a set of 1972 beetle steelies that I am going to put some new tires on. (current tires are toast and I'll need some new ones any way...)
I am only able to source the 165 80 R 15's locally.
I am a fan of the Empi 8 spoke, but have heard that there is fitment problems in the rear on ghias (15X 5.5 seems to be all I find used...)
What is the largest tire that I can get under a non modified rear fender on a 1973 ghia?
I wish to get a tire that I can put on the bug wheels and then possibly move to an alloy later on if I find a set of narrower 5" empi's to use.

The steelies that I have are 5" standard bug wheels. I have heard that the Ghais used 4.5 Wide wheels...

Thanks for any help, or personel experiences.
KC

Bump,
Want to get this this weekend and want to make sure I'm not going to regret putting 165 80 R15's on it....
Thanks,
KC

Those are the same tires i have on my bug, and no issues. I've seen people use bigger tires then that on ghia's with no problems. A buddy of mine has a crunchy baja ghia (pretty much stock, cept for bigger wheels/ tires, stock height), and he has some pretty big tires on there and alot wider. not sure exactly what tire, but they are some mud tires, and are a bit taller then my tires, and either 205 or 215 wide. so i see no issues with 165 80 15's. i hear on a bug you can use up to a 31 inch tall tire before it hits the long torsion bar extension on the springplate. but not sure about width. hope that helps.

I think the tires are the same bug to ghia, but ghia rims are like 914, and t4 rims and have a different offset. Do not know the numbers but you can see about a 3/4-1" difference on the offset. I seem to remember that I could run stock beetle rims on it with no issues, but plenty of issues with aftermarket rims.

Just for information's sake,
I went with the 185 65 R15 Goodyear Viva2's on stock 5" beetle steelies.

Tire's tuck nice and I believe that I could have gone with a 195 60 or 65 R15 and been OK on the width.
Just an FYI.

I believe that the Ghia steelies are 4.5" wide, I'm gonna sand blast them and look at the #'s.
KC

*****I edited the original Title of this thread so that I could Recycle it as a general Questions thead...
-Just being Green....*****

I need some pointers about lifting points, techniques and heads ups for seperating a ghia body from it's chassis.

I am thinking about:
1- getting some help and lifting it up by my hand, or
2- roping off to some trees and lifting it off that way with come alongs (need lift point ideas...).

I have a friend that has a lift, but no way to move it home afterwards...
Ahh the journey begins.

Thanks,
KC

Oh yeah - The Ghia wheels are 4.5" wide I seem to have all the original wheels (same month).

I have a new set of pans, full left and right. I was told that I could replace these with out having to take off the body. I pulled out the stuff from the interior and gave it the once over, It looks like the pan will need to be installed from the bottom. If so, It appears that I'll have to relocate the hole pattern on the outside rails. Aslo I'll have to reattach the jackpoints.
Any heads up on this?
Thanks,
KC.