Crank arm hits chaingaurd, chain to close to tire

[Sorcerer]

A nub here. Put the crank on and it hits the chain guard and the chain is way to close to the tire, I tried shimming the crank out to the right but not enough thread. So new crank and how do I identify one that will be wider between the pedals or "tread" ? this exists on my 1940 wards Hawthorne.
Help
Sorcerer

 

[Wildcat]

Do you have the original cranks to measure by? Lay the new cranks on top of the old to see the clearance. If not, maybe it had dogleg cranks that gave more clearance for the chain guard and the original sprocket may have been dished outward for the chain alignment. Pics would help out too.

 

[dogdart]

you can unscrew the nut that holds the sprocket on the crank , and usually add up to a 1/4 inch spacer , some cranks have a big washer on the nut side , which can be flipped to the otherside of the sprocket .

 

[Sorcerer]

I'll tear it down tomorrow and get some pics. To hot in the garage now. SICK OF SUMMER here in Phoenix.
Thanks guys,
Sorcerer