Looking Inside EAG’s 2020 Supra Transmission Swap Project (Part 1)

Not so long ago, the tuning company European Auto Group (EAG) from San Antonio, Texas has started its manual transmission swap project for the 2020 automatic Toyota Supra. If you visit EAG’s youtube channel, you’ll see that the team of talented engineers led by Art Bartosik devoted itself entirely to this ambitious project, as new videos the transmission swap progress regularly reach their followers and the whole auto world. Go4trans.com has already highlighted some basic information on the Supra project in one of our previous articles. This time we want to delve into the technical side of the project with the help of numerous videos provided by EAG and learn more about the company itself.

It’s not a secret that the new Toyota Supra was designed in partnership with BMW, thus you can easily notice the similarity to the new BMW Z4 model. Both cars are based on the same platform, but they also have many different features typical for each brand. Since the new BMW Z4 sDrive20i gets a 6-speed manual transmission option, why not to offer this classic option to its design twin Supra from Toyota. According to the head of EAG Art Bartosik, the new Supra has a lot of tuning potential.

2020 Toyota Supra

In addition to the transmission swap, EAG wants to make the new Supra much more powerful, therefore they teamed up with some tuning professionals to upgrade the engine. To achieve this purpose, the EAG team performed numerous runs on Mustang and Dyno Jet stands on the 2020 Supra. Firstly, tests were performed in stock mode, then they used Stage 1 tune software provided by the Canadian company ProTuning Freaks. Eventually, after making several arrangements and adaptations they managed to achieve 422 hp and 420 flb of torque.

2020 Toyota Supra during Dyno testing

To add Supra some more power, Art and his team installed an upgraded turbocharger supplied by the Californian company Pure Turbos. To the same end, it was decided to get rid of the antifreeze and replace it with distilled water, which is supposed to bring the temperatures down. Moreover, they installed custom exhaust system and down pipe. Thanks to all these updates and some tuning magic from DME Tuning Lab Works, at the 1-st stage of tuning the project team managed to achieve impressive results: 527 hp and 462 flb of torque. But it seemed like these characteristics still had a room for improvement.

After analyzing Dyno testing data, the team noticed that they were running at high IAT (intake air temperature) rate (approximately 140 degrees). Thus, they pulled the frontend off this car and examined the cooling system, which turned out to be quite complex, therefore it was decided not to take any measures before the next Dyno testing.

As for some diagnostics procedures, the EAG team and its tuning colleagues decided to perform a complete EGS scanning of all computer systems of the 2020 Toyota Supra to figure out how these systems should be operated within the framework of this tuning project and ensure that traction control, steering angle sensors, braking, and engine input operate properly.

During the test drive of the 2020 Supra after the 1-st stage of tuning, the test driver was impressed by the engine power adjustments done by EAG and its big team of tuning pros. Despite the fact that the stock 8-speed automatic transmission installed in Supra is very smart, the only thing that was missing for the test driver was a manual transmission. After some data logging and engine mapping manipulations, the next Dyno test at JMS moved the engine performance characteristics to a new level (533 hp and 460 flb of torque).

The next step was to test this power on the drag strip and try to beat the ¼ mile speed record, but on the first try it didn’t work out well. After proper analysis, change of the tires, car weight reduction (220 pounds were stripped off the Supra), and when the automatic car professional got behind the wheel, Supra performed better, but Art and his team are absolutely sure that a manual transmission and a bit more tuning will help Supra to beat the record.

Check out the 2020 Supra modified by EAG on the track

But let us shift out attention from the “engine power quest” to the transmission unit that can be used for the 2020 Supra swap, namely a 6-speed manual transmission used in some BMW models. Some people may say that it should not be a big deal to take a 6-speed manual transmission from BMW and install it in Supra.

6-speed manual transmission GS6-45DZ that perfectly fits in a 2020 Supra

But it seems like this task is a bit more complicated than it seems. The thing is that the bell housing of the BMW (gs6-45dz) manual transmission available in the US does not match the Supra design and the starter in transmissions sold in the US is relocated (it is positioned between the intake maniforld and the engine block). But luckily, the European version of this transmission (installed in the 520d and some other BMW models) has the required starter positioning at the bottom of the bellhousing.

Special thanks to Art Bartosik for mentioning go4trans.com platform in one of his videos

That’s where go4trans.com gave a helping hand to the project. Art contacted us and asked us to help in search of the transmission solution for this promising project. We, in turn, got in touch with our UK partners from Sussex Auto Parts and Hydra-Test and they eagerly agreed to take part in this promising project. Thanks to the joint efforts of the companies, now the 6-speed manual transmission (gs6-45dz) is on its way to the US. According to Art, this won't just be a stock Supra with a manual gear stick, as the team is changing the design of the whole dashboard to integrate the new manual unit properly. At this point, the interior is in the design phase, but here is how it will approximately look like:

The shift knob you see here is just a show-piece, as EAG currently works on a custom-built knob with a flip-up button for sport mode, which will be offered as an option named 'The Concept Shifter.

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Due to the fact that the factory warranty automatically terminates after any significant modifications, EAG will offer it will offer several warranty options on the transmission conversion service. EAG plans to perform 16 swaps within one year time period. Owners of the automatic 2020 Supra who want to get a manual transmission installed in their cars will have to loosen their purse-strings as a total cost of this service is $12,000. But if you are a manual transmission purist and want to stand out of the pack, it is worth it. EAG plans to present its manual 2020 Toyota Supra during the upcoming SEMA show.

More info on the project is to come…… Stay Tuned

About EAG

European Auto Group is a family-owned auto repair business headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company provides a wide range of repair and maintenance services for European auto brands (including BMW, Porsche, VW, Mercedes, etc). The list of EAG services includes the following: professional vehicle diagnostics, repairs and installations, timing belt services, welding and fabrication work, auto body customization and collision repairs as well as a wide range of performance services (from simple esthetic alterations to full custom design and performance tuning). The company also has a wide range of quality spare parts for European cars in stock. All services are performed by highly skilled and experienced technicians, therefore EAG offers a 1 year/12,000 mile warranty on all parts and workmanship. But the EAG team has become widely known to the auto world thanks to its manual transmission swap projects on automatic sports cars. The team of talented tech professionals has already unveiled to the auto world a one-of-a-kind Ferrari F430 Scuderia with a gated six-speed manual transmission. Now they have Ferrari 458 and 2020 Toyota Supra under way….