Import drag racers have always been able to make horsepower — horsepower numbers well beyond what their relatively minuscule engine displacement would suggest — but the problem that’s consistently plagued them has been keeping the parts together while doing so. Pushing 60 to 80 pounds of boost and sometimes even more through the OEM blocks, teams have been able to produce upwards of 2,000 horsepower on modified versions of Toyota’s stock iron 2JZ block, pressing the absolute boundaries of its capabilities in what could be described best as a ticking time bomb ready to go off. Producing that kind of power, racer often split the block vertically along the head studs due to the significant cylinder pressure at work.

For those with the resources, however, those concerns are largely a thing of the past, as Florida-based Mazworx has developed a full billet aluminum 2JZ block that’s already powered the two quickest imports in drag racing history into the 5.7-second zone at over 250 mph and done so as reliably as any proven domestic engine platform. Mazworxs’ billet block is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and has been given attention in all the right areas to make it a durable and long-lasting platform for elite-level import racers.

“This isn’t a carbon copy of the stock block. It has a lot of engineering to it, and it is much beefier all around, especially in the areas where they typically crack,” explains Mazworxs’ Manuel Soler. “We put 9/16-inch head studs in it (1/2-inch is standard with 9/16 as an upgrade), and it allows it to ‘grab’ more of the area where the stock blocks crack. You can replace the sleeves, as well — these are custom made sleeves from Darton. We can make the deck .400-inch taller, as well.”

The block accepts a stock 2JZ crankshaft and, per Soler, is designed for aluminum rods up to a 94mm stroke (stock stroke is 86mm), with total maximum displacement reaching 3.4 liters. The block sports splayed aluminum main caps to spread the load out, and is pre-notched for the rods. The block is also void of water jackets to maintain cylinder roundness (making it compatible with alcohol only), and has a -12an oil inlet and a single turbo oil feed.