caking the engine with mud wouldn't be the best idea. riding slow and at high throttle position can cause it to get hot. the mud can just trap the heat in. these bikes are only air cooled too. however, if you don't let it sit and idle you shouldn't have a problem.

 

CT built my 440 [ a true 440 with a Ross 89.5 12 :1 piston ] in Dec 98. It didn't even have the rings changed until last year when a LRD 480 stroker was installed. Remember, it's a Honda.

That being said, I would send my jug to GT Thunder, CT, Sparks, LRD, Powroll, Duncan, FST, TC [ a few others too ] and pay for the RIGHT combination of parts to be installed at the same time. I have seen SO many pieced together hack jobs over the years and they are ALWAYS slow. If you've got a sub $1000 440 then you have an incomplete project.