I agree with Travlee. Don't go too crazy right off the rip. Build 500-550, see how you like it. Thats a drastic increase from stock and will still keep the motor reliable. If it blows one day, then you can build a higher horsepower motor and you will understand the platform a lot better by then. VQs are cheap until you start to build them. Have fun

 

I doubt we’ll see the OP back again…FWIW…

The automatic transmissions will not take but 400 to 450ft-lbs in these cars (without upgrades). For how scarce the DEs are becoming and how hard it is to find a decent machinist nothing is cheap on these engines.