If you are actually going to try to go that high, I think you should find some stiffer plunger return springs.Maybe a fuel cooler as well?
8000!?!? That's way too high! Mind you I don't even like the idea of going past redline on these engines. You have to remember they weren't designed to rev high like that and anytime you bring an engine that high the wear and tear on it increases. I doubt you would get good solid power up that high. IMO stay in the lower rpm power band and use your gears!
I think if nothing else your mean piston speed is going to start being an issue. The long stroke of our diesel engines hurts us for durability at high revs because the piston speeds go through the roof. Most cars on the street have mean piston speeds at redline of about 3000 ft/min. Performance and race engines are in the 4000 - 4500 range. An F1 engine will be ~ 4900 ft/min. An AAZ at 8000rpm has a mean piston speed of 5013 ft/min! At that speed, you have some serious technical issues regarding ring and piston design that might be difficult to overcome.
VW's typical naturally-aspirated 8v design, even with extensive porting and cam work, runs out of airflow at around 7500 rpms tops, and that is in a formula super-vee type cylinder head- which was limited to 1600 cc and therefore the valves could only go so big.
Has anyone actually found the redline of one of VWs diesel engines? I mean with stock internals but a modified pump. I was hoping to blow up my NA that way but when the tranny went there went that idea as well.