When I take off from a stop I've gotten into the habit of letting up on the gas a little to help the tranny shift into 2nd and 3rd (automatic). The tranny feels strong and isn't slipping. Someone told me it would be a good idea to get a SHIFT KIT for smoother shifting and maybe a TORQUE CONVERTER too. What will the Shift Kit & Torque Converter do for me?

A shift kit will give you harder more firmer shifts, like 1st 2nd shifts will more than likely chirp the wheels and if you got the power 2nd to 3rd. unless its a good one (not the B&M) dont do it, just get a high performance tranny. They will destroy them most of the time on a high mileage trans, atleast thats been my experiance with them, the latest happening on sunday. A torque converter connects the engine to the trans this locks and allows the power to be converted to the trans. A looser stall will allow the rpms raise, and then lock. Example a 2000 stall converter will not allow the car to move from a dead stop at Idle like it normally would, it would take a little gas, and when you floor it from a dead stop it will raise the rpm to 2000 and then take off, they are fun but again, dont do it on a stock trans, if you spend your time cruising below the stall speed, you will cook the tranny fluid! the converter will keep slipping and wont lock until 2000

The higher stall converter is good for the gas station business:smileyb:
Sounds like the friends who advised you need to read-up a bit on transmission tech:smileyb:

In other words, you are trying to get the tranny to shift at lower rpm. If you are doing this at part throttle, just get an adjustable modulator and turn the screw inside of it to your desired shift point. If you're doing this at W.O.T. get a governor recalibation kit and modify the the governor. Has nothing to do with either the torque convertor or a shift kit.

A torque convertor is for what rpm you want to launch at and a shift kits is for firmer shifts, not when it shifts.

you will cook the tranny fluid! the converter will keep slipping and wont lock until 2000


Incorrect.

I had a converter with a slightly higher stall (like 5-600 over stock) in a '77, and the RPM at 60 mph went up about 35 rpm above the stock unit, not really a lot of slippage. Never liked that converter in there, and switched it back to stock. A higher stall, like 2500 etc is bound to heat the oil up some, but a cooler should be used to help the trans to survive anyway at that point.
Places like TCI have good info on their site about desired and max transmission temps.