[ItBites]

Tin-Man,

I run an auto trans and it has a semi-manual valve body, so it does not downshift by itself when you step on it. This is what used to be called "passing gear" and most performance transmissions either are disabled, or you can leave-off the "kickdown" linkage, which I think was a mechanical linkage for Fords, but I'm not a Ford guy, so i could be wrong about the mechanism. Anyway, if I have it in "D", it will upshift into 2nd and 3rd, but it will only downshift when approaching a stop. I suspect yours is already similarly equipped.

BTW, I also road race my car with the auto trans and it makes it easy to drive. I don't have to heel-toe or match revs, or even shift that often. I can brake with my left foot, which is great for trail braking and transition to power-on. I did have heat issues in the trans fluid until I went with a lower stall (2500 rpm) converter that I had built "tight" by Jim Hughes. I just got back from a track day at Inde Motorsports ranch (2.75 miles, 21 turns, 85 ft of elevation change) and it never got above 230 degF, even in Arizona.

Enjoy your automatic.