I have a few questions

[triad]

What exactly does a shift kit do? I have seen quite a few of them advertised however I never see what or how they operate. From what I am able to gather they can only be used with an automatic transmission, so I am thinking it replicates a manual transmission for those that cannot afford a manual replace?

And for those that do get a shift kit installed, would a person need a torque converter?

I know these are general questions, but I am hoping a kind soul will be helpful and answer them for me.

Thanks -

Dave

[Shadly]

A shift kit makes your shifts firmer in an automatic. That's all it does. A torque converter raises the RPMs that your car "grabs" at. Better for launches. You can do each of these jobs individually. One does not require the other.

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

Higher stall converter will make your shifts softer so you'll need the shift kit to firmer them up again.

[strange_trp]

all shift kits. (he says again) all shift kits increase main line pressure in trans, resulting in harder shifts. there are those that may argue this point, but i have seen it to be true: shift kits will shorten the life of the transmission.

yes you need a torque converter if you have an automatic trans. you probably don't need a high-stall converter right now. i'd focus on getting more out of the engine first. but every fbody with automatic transmission has torque converter.