I found that it would be best dropping the trans into first gear when the car was at a complete stop. I would always take off in first and quickly shift through to top gear once the car was moving if just cruising. Most of the time when the car was out, I was test driving as the owner didn't have a license. The trans had a Griner reverse pattern manual valve body, in a VG Coupe with a 360 backed by a 4800-5000 convertor. IHTH's