Everything is basically the same except the tranny cases to allow gear diff, and the two different ball diffs. Just download the B4/B4.1/B4.2 manuals to compare what's different.
You didn't say if spec/mod class. I just assumed mod class since you were worrying about power being dumped onto the ball diff.
I used to race mod buggy class when the B4 came out. I used a Castle Creations MambMax ESC 5700kV motor combo (I didn't know any better at the time) for a high...
I am not sure I'd go with the Hot Racing aluminum gear diff case unless a person could find the original #9829 rebuild kit. The #91463 diff rebuild kit is ever so slightly different, and has been noted to cause undesirable results with the Hot Racing case. I'd stick with composite gear diff case...