Breaking down 440 and have some questions

The caked up "port" is the crass over port.

Exhost gasses from one side of the engine flows through the intake to warm up the intake at cold start.

The center is the port, the U shaped opening is just a hole in the casting for heat dissapation.
The orange crud is just years of misc build up of dirt, grease and other crud.


As to the white vs black in the exhaust runners. Probably a cylinder running hot, or not burning oil like the rest.

Advise.... If you plan on reusing parts try to keep them in order, lifter with push rod with rocker with valve etc.