you may want to consider the header trick i stole from mr. pbody over on the race forum years ago. that trick was to enlarge one of the attaching holes on each separate tube segment[s]. this allows the attaching points to expand and contract under use and cool down. this may take some strain out of your newly formed ear. this trick works great to seal up even thin flange headers, so i would presume the idea may have some merit for your repair as well. it couldn't hurt [in my opinion], unless the bolt holes from the factory are a bunch bigger than the retaining fasteners, which would then make this idea moot.