I just don't know why anyone would go through all that malarkey for a set of headers.
Because they want their car to be "special". Ego plays a lot into this. I'm not a psychologist, but I've seen a lot of strange crap people do (or claim) about their cars over the years!
Ed
No better example than the 'Hemi 302'.
Chevy gave up on it, passed the project on to Smokey Yunick. He gave up on it also, calling it a "...one half-million dollar trip to Shitsville" in his book. Super Chevy did an interview with him in the August 1996 issue. He stated after considerable re-work, the heads topped out at 450 hp, less than his race-prepped production 302s did.
Apparently the truth doesn't apply to those that have them. I have seen a few Z/28s with the heads, claiming 650 hp.
Every 69Z I have seen with the Hemi heads, seems to expand on the myth that they were a powerhouse of a motor, and worth there weight in gold. Some people (owners) continue to spin that yarn, and then print out some silly stickers for the air cleaner stating 650 hp...😂