O.K. here is my opinion on the subject.

Take a 440CID Small Block with W8 heads and put it up against a PSO B-1 Headed 440CID Big Block

Combos would look like this

Small Block

4.00" Stroke
4.185" Bore
9.580" Deck Height

Big Block

3.40" Stroke
4.530" Bore
9.980" Deck Height

If you run a KB block on the Big Block you will even have a lighter engine than the Small Block

Pocket book would feel about the same....empty

I believe the Big Block would out power the small Block by at least 200HP