Stall options...

Combination of port size and stroke helps determine the rpm of peak power, and flattens the curve. The 408 has 6% more stroke than the 440. A higher stall will certainly make the car get moving quicker, but you're just slipping past usable power and certainly driveability which in a street car is more of a consideration than the small percentage of the time the car will be accelerating through the gears at full throttle. Every 4" engine that I've put into a street car and paried with a tighter, lower stall was much more of a balanced performer for the owners. Just my opinion but convertors are one of those things that race cars have to err on the side of acceleration and street cars have to err on the side of driveability.