My truck (check my sig) has a 4r100 tranny and I am afraid its about to need a rebuild. I have started to notice a little trans whine at around 35 mph in 3rd gear for the past 10K miles approximately and it just bothers me thinking that I might be towing and my trans will take a dump on me. Should I continue to drive the truck until it fails (probably will) or look at rebuilding it. I have never rebuilt an automatic but I am willing to learn. I guess I would like to know if there are any 4r100 improvements that are suggested when mated to the 5.4. I know there are a number of torque converters and shift kits out there, but I don't know much about them.

From what I have read a proper stall converter would be good. (i.e stall to peak torque rpms?)
Shift kit no idea what a proper one is because from what I have seen they only adjust shift points which has been done with my 5star tune.
Or just rebuild it to factory specs if and when it goes.

If ya'll have any advice I'd like to hear them and why you would suggest them. One day I would like to do a cummins 12 or 24v p-pump and ZF6 but this 5.4 seems to have a lot of life left. truck has only 147k miles.