The way I look at it is, that every B motor I’ve had needed some clearancing if using a Dakota style mini starter, so if I buy a new starter and grind it and the starter craps out they likely won’t give me any warranty on it as it’s been ground down etc, you know how it is if you give a manufacturer a reason to deny warranty.
So now I’ve got a useless starter on my hand, I’m out the money and I need to buy a new one and start all over again. Hence, grind the block, that way I can change the starter as many times as I want or as necessary without having continued grief of having to lie on my back and grind a starter, try to test fit it while trying to see if I have taken enough off the starter, all while screwing around with removing and reattaching the wires with headers in the way Etc...
Never had a 440, but from what I understand, they don’t require any clearance work...