And the answer to the wheel question is

fender lip-- upper and front corner.

you don't need to worry about anything suspension wise till you're at about 4.75 BS with 15 or 16's, then you're into the arms/ball joints and tie rods. at 17" you're able to clear those.
Never would have guessed it. Is that why originals were 5.5 with 3.75 BS and skinny tires?