Who told you that? I have spoken to a VQ30det owner with a TO4Z on it pushing 430wkw on the same rods, they must obviously be good for more than that as he was running that power for a year I think.
I havent done any rod work as I cant find replacements, and even if I got custom ones made, (you dont want to know the prices I got) they wouldnt be as strong as the stock ones. I will be going the 3.5 route anyway as soon as I can afford to rebuild the block I have here, should be good for over 800hp fairly easily.
The Emanage is a standalone if you put the engine in limp mode by the way.