Super cool Mendola chassis

Please forgive my long note, but this is the level of information needed for anyone to make an informed decision for a major purchase.

This chasis appears to be the missing link to a thoroughly modernized Type-1 VW. What is baffeling is why the big secret; there is is no information presented here and the Mendeola web site is no better. If the intent is to market this to the public, much more information needs to be made easily accessible.

I would love to use this and a 5-speed Mendeola transaxle (with gear ratios of my choosing) to establish the center of a modernized VW T-1.

I have been working on a modernized T-1 for nearly two years. I am a retired Army helicopter pilot. I was retired for medical complications from Multiple Sclerosis and other lesser problems with injuries collected during my military career. Which is the main reason I have been working on this project for two years. I have done all the work myself (except for assembling the transmission gear stack and machine work on the engine case). With my Multiple Sclerosis impacting my work schedule, I will be working on this project for two or three more years. But not whining, I know many soldiers with worse problems. I started this project because I enjoy working on cars, and it is therapy to keep me occupied and focused. Before entering the Army and along the way as time and circumstances allowed, I learned to work, build, and race cars and my love of hands-on cars remains alive and well. If you are interested, I have included descriptions and narrative of my current project. It is a long way from completion, but I have collected 90-95% of all the parts and pieces and completed most of sub-projects necessary to finish the car.

Rod’s Ride

Vehicle
The car is intended to be a modernized high performance and easy maintenance daily driver car that will have people wondering if this car is a Volkswagen and why it doesn’t sound like one or a hot rod. It is 1969 VW Type 1 Beetle w/ CA 1-piece front door windows, power window and door locks w/ security system, flip-out quarter windows, Frost-Line timed rear window defroster, dual external fan closed-system heater/defroster, windshield wiper delay and washer system, headlight washer system, adjustable fore/aft & tilt angle steering column, fiberglass dash and console w/ gauges, switches, and Scat Shifter, early model Porsche Sporster headlight grills, Motor Sports 3-Chambered headlight lenses w/ Hi/Lo bright white HID headlights, bright white HID Driving lights, and LED parking / turn lights, H-4 fog lamps (located in front bumpers), PT Cruiser 3D LED tail lights with custom spacers to fit contour of rear fenders, widened stock painted rear bumper with KC H-1 rear back up and red fog warning lamps and trailer hitch, 2� wider early model front and late model rear fiberglass fenders w/ hour-glass running-boards, EMPI Porsche 5 X130mm front and rear disk brakes (with emergency brake cables, braided stainless steel brake lines, Porsche 5 X 130mm Cookie Cutter rims w/ 185 X 60 Falken front tires, and 205 X 60 Falken rear tires, w/ Porsche small spare tire in front well, rear seat removed and replaced with Long Ranger fuel tank, carpeted rear shelf w/ 18 fuse circuit box, Mega Squirt II, V. 3 ECU with JB Performance 4-Channel Ignition/Injection Driver Board driver and Peak & Hold Injector Driver boards, In-Line relay control box, LM-1 wide band O2 sensor, EDIS-4 ignition, KnockSense control modules mounted below rear window tray, Gilmore Air Conditioning system, 4 point roll cage, Scat Pro Car front seats and mounts, AirKewld air ride system w/ four corner lift controls, Scat H/D anti-sway bars (this is not a parking lot jumper, I have a broken back from a helicopter crash and require a soft ride with good handling).
Transaxle
Custom Freeway Flyer IRS transaxle:
Weddel 3.44:1 R&P mounted to Super-Diff carrier w/ H/D Plates,
1st gear = 2.64:1, 2nd gear = 2.00:1, 3rd = 1.30:1, 4th gear = 0.77:1 ratios with welded 3rd/4th slider
Copper Head – dual surface friction disc
Kennedy 1900lb pressure plate
SACO hydraulic clutch and slave system
Forged Empi clutch lever
Empi Padded transaxle straps
Engine
VW Type 1
Fuel injected and turbo charged. It incorporates a heavy duty aluminium engine case, drilled for pipe plugs to replace all press-in galley plugs 2180cc thick walled cylinders (case and heads bored for 94mm cylinders) 92mm QSC pistons (balanced and ceramic piston top coating w/ Teflon coating to piston cavities and skirts), light-weight pins with Spira-Lock pin keepers, CB Bandito heads (40mmx35.5mm stainless valves w/lash caps), ported, polished, ceramic coated 60 cc Semi-Hemi chambers, heavy duty single valve springs (matched with Ti retainers and keepers, DRD forged 82mm crankshaft with Chevy rod journals, 12 pound forged steel flywheel with 6 pound steel pulley (to dampen crankshaft torsion loading and engine harmonics), CB 5� H-beam rods with Chevy journals, Pauter Roller camshaft V119 (with 256 degrees intake and exhaust duration @ 0.380� lift at the lobe (total of 0.050� lift with 1.25:1 ratio roller rockers), engine case modified to use Small Block Ford hydraulic roller lifters in bronze bushed lifter bosses, custom pushrods, 1.25:1 ratio AutoLine roller tipped and roller bearing rocker arms, 8.0:1 compression ratio, ceramic coated cylinder head tulip shaped exhaust ports matched 1 5/8� J-tubes in ceramic coated heater boxes

Idle RPM 800
Redline RPM 6500
Max RPM 7000 with turbo spool-up at 2500 RPM
Cooling/Oil System
Modified Doghouse shroud mated to early model rear plate to remove Doghouse clutter of factory oil cooler, full-flow oil system with external oil filter w/ oil temp diverter valve in-line, 96 plate oil cooler w/ thermostat controlled fan switch, and CB narrow sump, five quarts total engine oil capacity
Turbo System
Sweitzer S2A turbo charger,
CB Performance Hideaway Header, 1-5/8 pipes port matched to cylinder head exhaust ports (head exhaust ports are tulip shaped to prevent exhaust pulsing), CB Performance waste gate, 8 psi spring, blow-off valve mated to boost tube, 2.5� spun stainless steel catalytic converter and spiral chambered muffler exhaust mated to curved down pipe from exhaust turbine housing.
Intake System
Single CB dual throat 48mm throttle body on IDA center-mount manifold, CB pressure box (modified for 2� boost tube and hose w/ MAF and IAT sensors), CB Performance dual-port end pieces with injector bosses mounted with 48 PPH injectors to provide direct port injection. The reason for high capacity injectors is to have them function well below their rated service cycles.
Fuel System
CB Performance EFI pump w/ dual fuel filters (one for each fuel tank) prior to reaching fuel tank selector valve, steel fuel lines run through pan channel created by the convertible pan stiffeners, 3/8 feed, 5/16 return w/ flexible braided steel and tefflon -AN lines between engine and chassis, CB Performance fuel rails and hardware w/ JEGs fuel pressure gauge, Targa pressure regulator mounted just prior to return fuel line, Modified stock tank with fuel return bung Dual fuel tanks: Extra capacity front tank (16 gal) and Long Ranger (20 gal) replacing rear seat – nearly 1,000 mile driving range between refuelling (car built for looooooong trip driving). Ford EDIS4 36-1 wheel mounted on Gene Berg 6 pound crank shaft pulley, modified 8mm resistor plug wires with Ford coil ends and VW plug ends (to retain stock boot that covers spark plug hole in cooling tin), Homemade wiring harness w/ braided metal shielding for all signal sensitive wires, custom VR sensor bracket mounted to alternator stand, engine knock sensor mounted to top of engine case, NGK Tri-electrode plugs. Stock distributor removed, replaced with plug.
MegaSquirt–II, v 3.0 ECU (named Merlin) W/ following modifications:
Led 17 EDIS mod 24s11 code
MS 2 Extra Ver 2.10 system programs with following sensors and data senders: 4 Bar real-time MAP sensor, Mass Air Flow, Cylinder Head Temperature, Intake Air Temperature, Idle Air Control, Throttle Position Sensor, KnockSense engine detonation sensor, Bosch Wide-band O2 sensor with LM1 signal controller, sequential injector control board, Relay board, with custom engine harness cable using WX-Pac connectors and thru-bulk head cannon plug.
Miscellaneous
MegaTune set-up and configured on laptop

Tuned with Innovate LM-1 data collector

VDO gauges:
Tachometer driven directly by IDM wire on EDIS harness, Speedometer (HAL effect electronic interface),
Cylinder Head Temperature
Oil Temperature
Oil pressure
Fuel Level gauge (w/electric selector switch for dual fuel tanks)
Voltmeter
Ammeter
Air/Fuel Ratio Meter
Turbo Boost/Vacuum gauge
Quartz Clock

Dual (four-wheel) Air Ride Pressure Gauges


Notes
Fuel pressure is 60 psi static
Turbo spool RPM is approximately 2000 in first gear
Maximum boost pressure is 8 psi at 2500 RPM to redline
AFR 13.5:1 nominal
Timing retard is 1.25 degrees per psi of boost, to a max of 17 degrees
92 octane pump gas
Color scheme for paint and interior:
Exterior will be Ford/Lincoln Light Parchment pearl over gold
Interior will be Medium Prairie Tan leather and vinyl, head liner, and plush cut-pile carpeting




1969 VW Beetle w/ CA 1-piece front door windows, power window and door locks w/ security system, flip-out quarter windows, Frost-Line timed rear window defroster, dual fan closed-system heater/defroster, windshield wiper delay and washer system, headlight washer system, adjustable fore/aft & tilt angle steering column, Fiber Glass dash and console w/ gauges, switches, and Scat Shifter, early model Sporster headlight grills, Motor Sports 3-Chambered headlight lenses w/ Hi/Lo HID 6k Calvin headlights, HID 6k Calvin Driving lights, and turn lights, H-4 fog lamps located in front bumpers, PT Cruiser 3D LED tail lights, widened stock painted rear bumper with KC H-1 rear back up and red fog warning lamps and trailer hitch, 2� wider early model front and late model rear fenders w/ hour-glass running-boards, EMPI 5 X130mm front and rear disk brakes, braided steel brake lines, Porsche 5 X 130mm Cookie Cutter rims w/ 185 X 60 Falken front tires, and 205 X 60 Falken rear tires, w/ Porsche small spare tire in front well, rear seat removed and replaced with Long Ranger fuel tank, carpeted rear shelf w/ 18 fuse circuit box, Mega Squirt – II ECU, relay control box, LM-1 wide band O2 sensor, EDIS-4 ignition, KnockSense control modules mounted below window tray, Gilmore Air Conditioning system, 4 point roll cage, Scat Pro Car front seats and mounts, AirKewld air ride system w/ four corner lift control, Scat H/D anti-sway bars (this is not a parking lot jumper, have a broken back from a helicopter crash and require a soft ride with good handling).

Transaxle:

Custom Freeway Flyer IRS transaxle:
3.44:1 R&P mounted to Super-Diff carrier w/ H/D Plates,
1st gear = 2.64:1, 2nd gear = 2.00:1, 3rd = 1.30:1, 4th gear = 0.77:1 ratios with welded 3rd/4th slider
Copper Head – dual surface friction disc
Kennedy 1900lb pressure plate
SACO hydraulic clutch
Forged Empi clutch lever
Empi Padded transaxle straps

Engine:
VW Type 1 heavy duty aluminum case, drilled for pipe plugs to replace all press-in galley plugs, 2180cc thick walled cylinders (case and heads bored for 94mm cylinders), 92mm QSC pistons (balanced and ceramic piston top coating w/ Teflon coating to piston cavities), light-weight pins with Spira-Lock pin keepers, CB Bandito heads (40mmx35.5mm stainless valves w/lash caps) - ported, polished, ceramic coated 60 cc Semi-Hemi chambers, heavy duty single valve springs (matched with Ti retainers and keepers, DRD forged 82mm crankshaft with Chevy rod journals, 12 pound forged steel flywheel with 6 pound steel pulley (to dampen crankshaft torsion loading and engine harmonics), CB 5� H-beam rods with Chevy journals, Pauter Roller camshaft V119 (4 degree advanced ground in cam but mild streetable grind duration and lift), engine case modified to use Small Block Ford hydraulic roller lifters in bronze bushed lifter bosses, custom pushrods, 1.25:1 ratio AutoLine roller tipped and roller bearing rocker arms, 8.0:1 compression ratio, ceramic coated cylinder head chambers and exhaust runners, tulip shaped exhaust ports matched 1 5/8� J-tubes in ceramic coated heater boxes.

Idle RPM 700
Redline RPM 6500
Max RPM 7000

Cooling/Oil System:
Modified Doghouse shroud mated to early model rear plate (removes Doghouse clutter with oil cooler deleted, full-flow oil system with adjustable oil pressure regulator amd an external oil filter w/ oil temp diverter valve in-line, 96 plate oil cooler w/ thermostaticly and manual toggle switchs to controll fan, and CB narrow sump, five quarts total engine oil capacity.

Turbo System:
Sweitzer S2A turbo charger, CB Performance Hideaway Header, 1-5/8 pipes port matched to cylinder head exhaust ports (head exhaust ports are tulip shaped to prevent exhaust pulsing), CB Performance waste gate, 8 psi spring, blow-off valve mated to boost tube, 2.5� Super Trap exhaust (curved pipe from exhaust turbine housing).

Intake System:
Single CB dual throat 48mm throttle body on IDA center-mount manifold, CB pressure box (modified for 2� boost tube and hose w/ MAF and IAT sensors), CB Performance dual-port end pieces with injector bosses mounted with 48 PPH injectors to direct port injection. The reason for high capacity injectors is to have them function well below their rated service cycles.

Fuel System:
CB Performance EFI pump w/ dual fuel filters (one for each fuel tank) prior to reaching fuel tank selector valve, Steel fuel lines run through pan channel created by the convertible pan stiffeners, 3/8 feed, 5/16 return w/ flexible braided steel and tefflon AN lines between engine and chassis, CB Performance fuel rails and hardware w/ JEGs fuel pressure gauge, Targa pressure regulator mounted just prior to return fuel line, Modified stock tank with fuel return bung Dual fuel tanks: Extra capacity front tank (16 gal) and Long Ranger (20 gal) replacing rear seat – nearly 1,000 mile driving range between refuelling (car built for looooooong trip driving). Ford EDIS4 36-1 wheel mounted on Gene Berg 6 pound pulley, modified 8mm resistor plug wires with Ford coil ends and VW plug ends (to retain stock boot that covers spark plug hole in cooling tin), Homemade wiring harness w/ braided metal shielding for all signal sensitive wires, custom VR sensor bracket mounted to alternator stand, engine knock sensor mounted to top of engine case, NGK Tri-electrode plugs. Stock distributor removed, replaced with plug.

MegaSquirt–II, v 3.0 ECU (named Merlin) W/ following modifications:
Led 17 EDIS mod 24s11 code
MS 2 Extra Ver 2.10
4 Bar real-time MAP sensor,
MAF, CHT, IAT, IAC, TPS, KnockSenseMS, Wide-band O2 sensor with LM1 signal controller, sequential injector and ignition spark control board, Relay board, RS-Autosport and DYI engine wiring for engine harness using WX-Pac connectors and thru-bulk head cannon plug to facilitate easy engine removal.

Miscellaneous:
MegaTune set-up and configured on laptop

Tuned with Innovate LM-1

Bosch NB02 for everyday EGO correction

VDO gauges:
Tachometer driven directly by IDM wire on EDIS harness, Speedometer (HAL effect electronic interface),
Cylinder Head Temperature
Oil Temperature
Oil pressure
Fuel Level gauge (w/electric selector switch for dual fuel tanks)
Voltmeter
Ammeter
Air/Fuel Ratio Meter
Turbo Boost/Vacuum gauge
Quartz Clock

Dual (four-wheel) Air Ride Pressure Gauges

Notes
Fuel pressure is 60 psi static
Turbo spool RPM is approximately 2000 in first gear
Maximum boost pressure is 8 psi at 2500 RPM to redline
AFR 13.5:1 nominal
Timing retard is 1.25 degrees per psi of boost, to a max of 17 degrees
92 octane pump gas

NICE WORK THERE KEEP IT UP I HAVE JUST HAD A 1973 BUG I LOVE IT HOW WOULD YOU LOWER IT THANKS NICE WORK