shift kits help very much. I bought mine through jegs. The brand was performance automatic, it cost $279. The amsoil atf cost 160, plus i had left over fluid. The deeper pan cost 160. And install was 125. It cost a lot more than i had expected but i get the tire cherp from 1st to 2nd and it shaved 9/10ths off my quater mile time. it was well worth it to me. next im getting 4.10 gears with a t-lok.