Kristian Goleby of Goleby’s Parts has been playing with the 8HP platform since 2019, when they purchased a then-new MkV A90 Toyota Supra to do some basic R&D on.

“They come with the 8HP51, so we first started toying with them back then,” he says. “Since then we’ve fitted them to several cars, and we’ve got more swaps planned going forward.”

If you’re unfamiliar with the ZF 8HP platform, then we have a full tech explainer here. In a nut shell, it’s an eight-speed transmission, originally debuted behind a BMW V12, now seen in wide range of vehicles, including the RAM TRX, Supra A90, Audi RS6 and many more.

They’re the new hotness in auto transmission, capable of taking big power and also providing the street driving characteristics of a normal car.

In the case of Naomi van der Togt’s 1264whp 2JZ-powered S15, a 8HP75 was moved in to replace a Powerglide. “Naomi loved the ‘Glide at the track, but wanted better street manners,” says Kristian. “This car has always been an all rounder, so it’d suit the cruising she likes to do better without losing performance at the drags.”

Kristian says that while an 8HP will fit under a standard S15 tunnel, the team fitted a new tunnel to accommodate a ballistic blanket, as there are no SFI-rated cases available as yet.

“We used a DomiWorks swap kit for the 2JZ, which just bolts it on, and a Lamik controller with four settings that works with the Haltech,” says Kristian. “Gilroy’s Race Transmissions rebuilt the ‘box, and it has four settings for street, drag, roll racing and so on.”

The S15 KO’d the diff last time they went racing with the 8HP before they saw a decent number, but it still ran 160mph in testing before that. “That was with roughly the 1000hp tune in it, so there’s room to grow yet,” says Kristian.

Goleby’s have also chucked an 8HP in their JZX100 drift car, and have plans for even juicier builds with the transmission platform down the line. “I’ve got a Corolla we’ll throw one in with a 1JZ, we’re planning an AWD JZX100, so it’s something we’re really getting into going forward,” says Kristian.