Have built a few 440s using the later casting and have had no problems. I found when I was running 440s that there were more early 440 motors around than later 440s maybe because the later motors were still being used in their original vehicles,while the early ones the vehicles were worn out both body and motor so they were cheap. The only problem I found was when you bought a later 440 it just did not have the good crank. You got more bang for you buck buying the early forged crank motor.

Pick up the 440s one day they will be next to impossible to find cheap. I still have 5 440s as spares and two are early and three are 72 and up.