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I think it's unfortunate that in this conversion the motor is placed so far forward that it is just as bad as the original engine, which is way too far forward for this type of car (the one notable design issue with the BRZ/GT86). Given that the Leaf motor shouldn't need the large 6-speed transmission, this seems like a missed opportunity.

In a post on Jan 21, 2020, the builder shows how he has determined that the transmission should be in third gear (a 1.541:1 ratio). If it is to be just left in 3rd, the huge transmission is mostly wasted - a compact and lighter fixed-ratio gearbox would be preferable. There were later references to shifting, so the transmission is being used effectively at least at times.

I'll also note that in that OpenInverter thread, the builder uses the term "battery" where "module" would be more in line with normal practice.

Near the beginning (Nov 04, 2019) the builder provided corner weights, but I couldn't find any follow-up so we unfortunately don't know how the conversion changed the vehicle mass or mass distribution.

Despite these detail reservations that may be of interest to anyone doing a similar conversion, this GT86 is a nice project.
 

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The boxer engine is short and low but wide.

I would be more concerned if the conversion raised the CoG higher than the boxer.
The motor is similarly short, much narrower, and just as low. Of course motors often have a controller and other components sitting on top of them, while boxer engines have intake and other accessories sitting on top of them.

In this conversion, the motor shaft takes the place of the engine shaft, so the motor and engine are at the same height. There's no problem with this, but it's a missed opportunity: the motor doesn't have a sump, so it could sit lower and maintain ground clearance if it were not constrained by the stock transmission position and whatever structure runs under it.

In a normal Subaru, the engine is very high, to place the transmission input shaft over the differential. With the engine in front of the axle there's no way to put a steering rack up there, so it runs under the transmission. The BRZ/86 adaptation keep the rack position (for the same reason, even with the engine shifted back somewhat) and that forces the transmission to stay high and keeps the engine and transmission from going further back. The starter motor also prevents the engine from being further back, as it would run into the firewall. After the conversion due to the differences between the boxer engine and and electric motor, the vehicle could have a desirable front-steer configuration and the motor and transmission substantially further back... but it's stuck with the compromises caused by the boxer. A conversion of another Subaru, again using the original transmission, would need to keep the transmission in the same place to line up with the front axle, so these placement issues are unique to the BRZ/86.

The big centre of mass (CofG) issue is usually the battery. In this case, most of the modules are quite low (in the trunk, in the fuel tank space, and flanking the motor), although some are stacked higher in the engine compartment. That's a lot better than many conversions. The part which is unfortunate about the mass is that most of the battery mass is too close to the ends, rather than within the wheelbase. That's the result of the small car not having any other space, and the configuration of the motor taking the prime underhood space. At least it's much better than stacks of modules (or lead-acid batteries!) stacked over the motor and all the way to the nose, as has been done with other conversions of other vehicles.
 

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I think it's unfortunate that in this conversion the motor is placed so far forward that it is just as bad as the original engine, which is way too far forward for this type of car (the one notable design issue with the BRZ/GT86). Given that the Leaf motor shouldn't need the large 6-speed transmission, this seems like a missed opportunity.

In a post on Jan 21, 2020, the builder shows how he has determined that the transmission should be in third gear (a 1.541:1 ratio). If it is to be just left in 3rd, the huge transmission is mostly wasted - a compact and lighter fixed-ratio gearbox would be preferable. There were later references to shifting, so the transmission is being used effectively at least at times.

I'll also note that in that OpenInverter thread, the builder uses the term "battery" where "module" would be more in line with normal practice.

Near the beginning (Nov 04, 2019) the builder provided corner weights, but I couldn't find any follow-up so we unfortunately don't know how the conversion changed the vehicle mass or mass distribution.

Despite these detail reservations that may be of interest to anyone doing a similar conversion, this GT86 is a nice project.
It may be the owner wanted to keep the AWD aspect of the Subaru - that is a defining feature and often the reason someone buys a Subaru in the first place. To do that they have to keep the whole transmission/AWD unit as it is a fully integrated "part".
 

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It may be the owner wanted to keep the AWD aspect of the Subaru - that is a defining feature and often the reason someone buys a Subaru in the first place. To do that they have to keep the whole transmission/AWD unit as it is a fully integrated "part".
With another Subaru model that would make sense, but this is a Toyota GT86 (a.k.a. Subaru BRZ, or Scion FR-S)... which is a rear-wheel-drive-only car. AWD is not available for this model.
 

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Discussion Starter · #15 · (Edited)
I'm trying to figure out extent of the Resolve EV control functions EV conversion kit with Nissan Leaf parts (used) | Resolve-EV , I assume it is just the battery and motor side and that the CANbus controller, used in the GT86 conversion, is still needed.

I have this on my shopping list:

Arduino based replacement ECU for CAN-communication from Geraldjustprojects.com
 

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how are you keeping the AWD? i thought of running double leaf or hyper 9 but stuck on what to do to keep them 50-50 split
A conversion that retains the original transaxle and everything beyond it (shafts and rear final drive unit) keeps the same front-rear torque split. That split may not be 50:50, depending on the specific AWD system.
 

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What year of Subaru are you looking at? 2001-2017 build years cannot get reclassified on fuel type/tax class in the UK.

Also a Subaru, again depending on year will have a bunch of electronics you will need to keep happy for the various systems to keep operating.
 
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