Maybe they had high hopes for those mighty Crower cams they installed

the internet said it would make 100 more horsepower by doing that

Hard to tell why certain things are done. I will say when I bought my 33 avs it had 100% stock 500 efis with 180 hrs, ran 78 something with butchered up 28s. Bought a set of partially labbed 30s and saw 84 something touching rev limiter intermittently. Bumped rev limiter from 5400 or 5450 where 500s are stock up 100 rpms even though it had stock springs, saw 85 and change. I dynoed a 99% stock 502mpi NA, it had 3 angle valve job, better springs but stock otherwise (aside from twin gaffrig superchargers BUT broke in and baselined the engine with belt and air horn adapter off, it peaked at 5200 and carried flat to 5400 fwiw, Smitty