The auto tech said that he felt an occasional "hard shift".He did not know if this was an after-market shift kit or potential damage.

An acquaintance wrote the following when we discussing my new purchase...

"The main problem with the Ford is the Computer and the Torque converter. With the soft shifts programmed in the side effect is slippage that fries the clutch fast.

The other problem is the torque converter. When made FORD doesn't attach the vanes inside the converter. When made they just fold the tabs over and that is all that holds them in place. Over time they work loose or break and bad things happen when you have a big chunk of sheet metal like that floating around. BUT there are a Bunch of after-market converters out there that are brazed and or welded. And most of these are actually cheaper than a factory replacement....

Take it to a good shop and have the tranny rebuilt. Have them add a clutch to each pack. Replace the planetaries with steel units (factory in early trannies were aluminum), put a spring kit in it, and a brazed or welded heavy duty converter. Then hook up a programmer and fix the software issues with the soft shifts."

I'm a database analyst, not a gear head (although I am learning!). But for heavens sake..."a clutch for each pack"? Pack of what and how many are there? Planetaries I know are part of the gears in a tranny. How many of them? Spring kit?

I guess I am trying to get enough info to ask intelligent questions when I walk into a transmission shop (I am thinking local instead of national chain or factory), and try to figure out how much this may cost.

Many thanks for all of the knowledge I have found here at FTE.