GT2 Mid engine Subaru conversion

I wanna see and hear this, can you do a video and put on youtube?

As promised I will post pics and video tomorrow afternoon of my progress so far. As I get further into the project I will post like I did when I restored the car and the Vair installation.

The plan is to be able to install the complete engine and trans as a single unit from below without removing the body.

Sorry no pic of just the cradle. It is simply an angle iron box that hooks up to the factory engine and trans mounts.It has 4 casters to make moving it easy. Next time I go to the garage I will gets some shots of the cradle but the engine is on it.

Here is the excess wire that is not needed. With the help of my Alldata program I printed about 40 pages of diagrams to be able to sort it out. Unfortunately Alldata has black and white images for the 98 Legacy Brighton. Mitchel on demand would be better as it has color.\



A shot of the engine



For anyone considering this here is the belt needed.


Kennedy sells adapters to mate the Subaru to a VW trans. [Rear engine} Modules are available to simulate the VSS so it won't go into limp home mode.

As I am going mid an d using the facory AWD trans That uses 2 VSS I had to open the back of the trans to see how the VSS1 was triggered and how power is sent through the trans. 100% of the power and torque goes to the front drive shafts at all times. power to the rear is variable. The AWD trans can be locked in FWD mode by installing a fuse. By doing this you are disconnecting the clutches for the rear shaft. VSS1 takes a reading off of the rear output clutch drum that is directly connected to the rear driveshaft. In the Subaru when you do this, the rear wheels still drive the rear shaft thus the VSS1 till creates a signal. In the Bradley there is no rear driveshaft so the fuse must remain out, keeping the trans in AWD mode. By doing this VSS1 still creates a signal. A cover is needed to seal the rear ouput of the trans. I used a piece of exhaust pipe and a frost plug.

Well here it is. First video. The 2 lights are the check engine light and the trans temp light which is used for trans code retrieval.

Inside the back of an AWD


Length comparison bottom to top.

1) Shortened Manual transmission, converted to 2WD
2) Factory 2WD auto transmission (as short as an auto is going to get)
3) Factory 4WD Manual transmission
4) Factory 4WD Auto transmission.

Here is a nice mid engine Bradley GT2.

Looks more like a modified Aztec GT

thanks Dan for the pictures !! I like the paint job and the wheels on the blue one

Here is one more picture of the modified Bradley GT2, along with some pics of an Alta GT project.

Wow! Great work on your double clamshell Bradley GT2 mid-engine project.

It got to be a looong distance Bradley cousin.........

Wasn't too bad with good diagrams, a multimeter, patience and an understanding of electrical. Time consuming. Hardest part was the elimination of the 2 fuse boxes as many circuits would start at one, go through the other, then return. A couple of circuits did not show up in the diagrams. Making my own may have been easier but then you have too many solder joints and too many wires that are the same color. The ecm has about 89 pins, about 70 are used. Also doing it this way keeps all the factory colors, connections {less prone to gremlins} and is free.



www.rjes.com/html/why_subaru_engines_.html will sell you a custom harness and VSS mod if you run a VW trans. Good forum on conversions.

www.subarugears.com axle adapters _{reverse cut sub crown/pinion}

Sorry, spent 5 days sick in bed. Fortunately it was on my regular days off. Then back to work for 5. This time around I was only off for 3. Two went to family priorities. One went on the Bradley. Managed to strip out the engine, tranny and axles. Did some measuring. Length looks ok. Axle positioning will be close as will exh manifold clearance. Currently back at work for 6. Nice thing is I took a week of holidays starting Dec 5. The way my schedule works, I am off from Nov 30 to Dec 13. Plan is to have this done before Christmas. Pics will be posted.

Looking good. They make a kit to convert the AWD to FWD. There's a plate that will take the place of the rear out put.
Tried looking for it but couldn't seem to get it.

OH, wait a minute, That's a AUTO TRAN.

Finally got some more done. Decided to go with 1" id shcedule 40 steel pipe, cut and threaded to get the basic shape. All areas that have a screw in fitting will be getting gusseted to relieve any stress on the cast fittings. Still lots of welding to do. And more bracing to put in. Most of it is just tacked in place. Front engine hoop will continue down to the floor beside the seats. Tranny will be supported from the top and under the tailstock. Engine gets 2 mounts under it for a total of 5 rubber isolation mounts. 3 lower mounts are factory Subaru mounts. 2 uppers are relocated VW trans mounts. Old frame horn ends are relocated to mid side bars to make use of the VW mounts.

VW mounts used.











Custom fuel tank will go above trans and under the sloped rear braces. This should help direct airflow from hood inlet vents to rad. Rad will be behind tranny with air also directed from underneath. Warm air will exit just below license plate area.











Remote oil filter adapter. Filter and cooler will be under the rear hood.