Mendeola suspension kits

Well guys finaly gota chance to take pictures of our kits. Also we figured out how to make our rear trailing arms a full 1.25 inches narrowed per side. If you have an IRS rear supension this would allow you to install 1 inch wider wheels with out any additional chassis mods.

Kevin - AWESOME set-up! Maybe on my next tub!

Do they bolt up to an IRS type pan? Front and rear?
Beautiful pieces.

That version of their rear setup's bolt-on. They do have other options that require welding or chassis mods. The front bolts in place to align everything but must be welded together.

The impressive bit is that the front kit spindle-to-spindle is 3 lbs lighter than the beam it replaces.

Justin-I think I'd like to see some engineering data on this "lightened" suspension...

Jim-

Your NEXT tub? At the rate you're going, that won't be for a long, long time. You got 100K mi on that one yet? ;)

Jim, Thank you...

Do they bolt up to an IRS type pan? Front and rear?
Beautiful pieces.......Yes

Justin,

That version of their rear setup's bolt-on. They do have other options that require welding or chassis mods. The front bolts in place to align everything but must be welded together.

The impressive bit is that the front kit spindle-to-spindle is 3 lbs lighter than the beam it replaces.........you are one informed person.

Stan, Comon give our boy Jim a break..... You have to savor driving your tub.....

You know someone's got to ask...

How much?

angela

Kevin, can your front and rear suspensions be installed on a pan car with the body in place?

F & R = $7K, per postings on cal-look forum.

UGH ...a tad excessive for a glass replica ride!

The front end kit complete spindle to spindle is $3300 the rear kit with everything in the picture cost $2400...

Ron,
can your front and rear suspensions be installed on a pan car with the body in place?.... rear yes, front ? have not tried but I need to put my Speedster up in the air to check....


Comon Doc,
With all the cars you build and make money on the sale???? Add up what you put into a complete lowered front beam at retail prices plus powder coating and you'll find out your getting close to the cost of our front end, yet you still have no performance...

I can't wait to install mine my speedster is going to rip around corners. No more up on two wheels scares!

Kevin,

When Steve gets back and around to working on the two speedstah projects, we'll give you a shout about the front suspension (think we've got the rear handled.

This is a lovely setup and is in-line with the standard that we would like to build the cars, thank you for posting it. Any chance of integration with 944 hubs/brakes at the front? That would make it a "done deal" for us.

angela

How about a group buy price?

Dr. Porsche's torsion beam design = "no performance?"

Steve,

This is a lovely setup and is in-line with the standard that we would like to build the cars, thank you for posting it. Any chance of integration with 944 hubs/brakes at the front? That would make it a "done deal" for us.

As far as I know the 944 conversion in the front just takes a set of bearing addapters. Is there something else I don't know about? Also I don't know if you know this but we can make our rear arms 1.25 inches narrow and they still mount to a stock torsion bar. This would allow for larger wheels and tire out back. Also with out kit you can set up toe and camber adjustments in the rear. These chassis parts were designed with one thing in mind PERFORMANCE!

Bill,
As for a group buy price I think I could do something deppending on how many guys are up for it....

One last thing.... We also build complete chassis ready to install for all you self builders. Would it be nice to just have a fully powder coated chassis show ready to install????

Thank you Kevin. Just for the record, my name is Angela.

angela

The torsoin bar design is almost 80 years old, and it's remarkable that it's still in use, mainly due to its simplicity and being economical to produce. However, no one anticipated the HP of today's vehicle or contact patch and stickiness of today's tires. If it was indeed a "performance" part, the mere addition of a front anti-sway bar would not bring the OOOOHHHHs and AAAAHHHHs that it does.

St. Ferdinand was undoubtedly a masterful and innovative automotive engineer, but the torsion bar axle was not the high point of Porsche's career. He actually "borrowed" the design from Hans Ledwinka, who designed it for the Czech Tatra vehicle. As a result, in 1961, VW paid Ringhoffer-Tatra $3 million DM as damages/restitution for the "borrowed" design.

In a hobby filled with junk (and imposters selling and installing it), stuff like this gives me hope for the future of our cars. Any time a quality product can help fill out the pantheon of options available to guys, it should have a prominent place in the discussion. Yes, a stock front end can be made to work a lot better than it did on a Beetle, but there is a WORLD of difference between a modern A-arm and "the beam". Arguing otherwise is ignoring the obvious.

It isn't going to be for everybody, but the (front especially) suspension is the weak link once the shortcomings of the original engine are addressed.

As I see it, if Mendeola is offering a complete pan with all the bells and whistles, it becomes "doable" for the average home-builder hoping to end up with something more than a cool old VW. Install a 944 brake setup (if you want to run Fuchs) or an Airkewld multi-piston setup (if you want to run wide 5), slip in a good stout transaxle and a Raby Type 4, and you'd have pretty close to the ultimate rear-engined 4 cyl platform.

I still like Henry's re-thinking engine placement, and the availability of a 911 front suspension in an IM, but this stuff is very, very cool.

... and is great for the hobby.

I can see myself ordering a kit from Mendeola or Eyeball Engineering in the next year or two. I'm really happy with my rear suspension setup (truss bar, roll bar supports, and Koni shocks), but I can't say the same for my stock front beam. The Konis help, but not enough.

Angela, Nice to meet you.... sorry :)

Jim, Thanks for the history lesson, I did not know that.... Imagin what it would cost a car builder today for a borrowed design..

Stan, Nicely said and thanks for the possitive words.

Ron, If you want one of ours just let me know and I'll make sure your taken care of. One note, the last I heard the eyeball does not come with spindles or shocks & springs. The cost is $3000. Oh yea they don't offer a anti roll bar/ sway bar yet either.... Not trying to be a bad guy just want to point out the differences. After talking with the head guy at Eyeball at last years classic he said they are trying to work out a sway for there kit. So I could be wrong about the sway bar now???

I like the full chassis idea, just can't afford it.
Maybe you could do a break down, 10-15 orders vs 16+

Hi Kevin, Spindles, shocks and springs are included.

Bob

Bill,
Our complete chassis with us suppling the pan, new pan haves, and everything else you need except brakes, tires and wheels, retails for just under $9000 and that includes shorting the pan also. Basicaly ready to install your engine and trans, then the body, brakes wheels and tires.

Bob,
Yes we include everything from spindle to spindle. Including shocks, springs, and spindles....

Hi Kevin, My point was that Eyeball does include coils shocks and spindles. But thanks anyway.

Bob

Bob,

No problem just wanted to make sure I was clear.

That performance chassis under that Coupe body listed for sale in 'Classified' would be KILLER!!

Kevin, I often share the Sloppy Jalopy with my wife. She's been driving performance cars for a few years, off and on, and her consistent complaint about our ride is that it corners like a garbage scow.
She absolutely hates the front beam, and I didn't know there was a modern alternative. Now that you've posted that combination, I think we might have a way forward.
Can I get that assembly powdercoated in Safety Orange?

Cory,

anything is possible, even orange!

:)

Hmmmmmmmmm!

Kevin,
I misspoke, spindles not included. Presumably, they would be used from previous front end.

Bob

Bob,
That is correct for the eyeball, they do not include spindles.

Cory,

Your car won't handle in part because of those stupid front shocks ! ! ! With the weight of your car, you barely even need shocks in it. Get something soft and adjustable with a good rebound up front and straighten things out with what you already have first.

Seriously ! Look at the foolishness that was going on in the rear. That ride may look cool, but it's still messed up and dearly needs sorting out. You KNOW it's true.

HEY, who's the scary hairy man fondling your steering wheel ? ! ? ! ? !

Outstanding!

Would the front end be out of balance or oversprung if used on a chassis w/swing axle rear? How would you upgrade the rear of a swing axle car if you were running the A-arm/coilover front setup? Convert to IRS?

TIA

Spend another $2400 and convert the rear also.

Make that $9k for a chassis ............

I think that we ought to delete this thread 'cause I really, REALLY want this set-up and can't afford it right now . . .

I don't think I could afford it anytime ...

I spent 3500 on engineering alone for my front end design, and if I had to do it again would buy the Mendola product. Then again I wanted 996 brakes, 996 17 x 7 front wheels, and fitting within my flared body.

Now if someone would only buy one to defray my cost!