RE: 1978 440.....?
I actually rebuilt a 1978 440 engine for my 1958 Dodge, and had a cable shift 727 out of a '62 300...There were a few differences, though.
The later 440s had a cast crank as opposed to the forged crank. These motors were externally balanced, as opposed to the earlier motors that were internally balanced. The later motors had 452 heads which IMHO are just as good, if not better than the 906 heads everyone raves about.
The Cast crank motors were thinner walled as well-the waterjacket was in turn, larger. The harmonic balancers were different in the two cranks...
The water pump exited on different sides, I put a high-flow Mopar Performance water pump that exited on the correct side for my Dodge.
The flexplate/Torque converter were different, and not interchangable. I had to get my '62 Torque Converter balanced to fit my '78 soft crank motor.
Despite some misgivings about the engines, I liked mine. I had no problems with it, and despite being a 'smogger' motor, I embrassed smaller faster cars with my befinned land-yacht!
Yes, all the B-R/B speed parts are very interchangable. I actually took the 452 heads to the bench grinder to make my 4-bolt 350-361 valve covers fit! ( That was the only wierd thing I did)
I had a MP purple cam, .425 lift, split 280 duration.