Ed, thanks for your note - I forgot to include the web address for the most wonderful gear calculator I've found - all the most common trannies calculated in one table for any tire size, gear ratio or speed, plus you can design your own gear ratios and check out the RPM for every gear in your section of the table for any gear ratio or check out the speed at any given RPM....free too!
http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/gear_calculator.html
Sydney, I guess they recommended the 2600 stall converter so the engine wouldn't be pushing to move the car at idle, perhaps even a smoother takeoff? I've read lots about torque converters and remain somewhat confused....I'm looking into the lockup converter though my feedback from professionals has been mixed - the lockup on the OD would allow me to cruise at an RPM below full torque converter engagement, improving the power to the tranny and the mileage I get in OD.
Ed, please let me know how it works out with the AOD - fitment, source, cost, etc.
Regards!
Dirk