Hi everyone,
This is my first post so please excuse if I mess up.

I just need to know if I install 2.5 inch drop spindles with 5.5 inch alloy wheels on my 1962 Karmann Ghia, do I need a narrowed beam for wheel clearance on the front guards?

i would say yes, i am running 5.5 inch wheels, drop spindles and a 2 inch narrowed beam on my ghia, and when i had it a touch lower it still rubbed at full lock going up driveways


kdo07 by rickpereira_01, on Flickr

Variables still to consider are wheel offset, brakes, tyres and desired ride height.

Welcome to here

Look for a wheel that takes into account the 20MM a side that is added by the dropped spindles, I have a ET of 55mm + on a 6 x 17 wheel with no rubbing issues on a stock width beam with dropped spindles. it seams pointless to me to buy a wheel and modify the suspension to accommodate it, I spoke to a engineer at the main roads yesterday in Brisbane and he stated that under no circumstance could a narrowed beam or a reduction in track be legal. I removed the narrowed beam that was fitted to the car along with the Fuchs and replaced it with the current set up when I bought it and the handing improved drastically.

Thanks for your help.
The wheels I am planning to buy and fit with the 2.5inch drop spindles are EMPI GT-5 5.5X15" 5/205,ET20.
I assume the ET20 Part means 20mm off set.

Hopefully they'll fit.

With 20ET they will rub with the dropped spindles , then you will have to narrow the beam, this changes all the suspension geometry including the scrub radius, loads up the link pins and king pins and wears them out prematurely, also the trailing arm bearings on the inside wear badly as I found out when I dismantled the front end I removed from the car, if you want to run those wheels do not use dropped spindles but they would probably rub any way with 20ET, there really is no such thing as hope they will fit when it is not very hard to work it all out.

vwo60,

Thanks for your help with figuring out my wheel selection. Just to confirm my hubs are the original 5 stud, 205 diameter, so the selection of available wheels is limited.
I am keen on the Empi Gt5 wheels https://www.classicveedub.com.au/cvd_new/part_detail.aspx?parts_id=15568 

So from what you said earlier I will need at least an ET of 45 to 50mm for the 5.5inch wheel. If they don't make them in that size, I'll have to look elsewhere.

That is if you wish to retain good drivability, a ET of 45 would work, steel wheels could be made up to suit if all else fails, the rear is a differ story with the short axel gear box, I had a similar set up on my early beetle with a set of wheels that I made up to suit the dropped spindles fitted with 4 stud discs on the front and type three drums on the rear fitted to a short axel gear box,