A ha!!!
“Not enough”....... cam or exhaust in your old combo to sneak up near the 500hp mark.

I think many people underestimate the importance of the “big cam” when reaching for 500hp out of those milder combos.

Of course, depending on how the car is being used...... using a 500hp capable cam may or may not be a good choice.
In your old combo, the car would have just slowed down with a cam like that.

Running the 500hp cam successfully means....... running “enough” gear and converter to go along with it.