Yes, the 1-2 Kit is best. BUT, just do it for Stage 1. Stage 2 is harsh. I loved the stage in my Street/Strip truck but anything over a light throttle take off I'd bark the 33x12.50 tires with the Dana 60 LSD diff with 4.56's. Half throttle take off it would slam 2nd and easily kick the ass end of the truck sideway as it barked the tires. That truck was fun as hell. But as said, just a daily or work truck do the 1 kit. It's firms and crisps up the shift. Consider the 1 as an RV kit and Stage 2 is Street/Strip.
What you were talking about, about having to shift it to whatever gear you wanted, is reffered to as a Full Manual Valve Body. Meaning, you have to manually shift it and no auto function whatsover. Sometimes reffered to as Stage 3 kit and considered Strip Only Kit, as in Dragstrip. You'll like a Stage 1 kit. When you get on it hard, like maybe a full throttle take off, you just might get a slight bark of the tire if you're a peg legger but nothing that's not tolerable, and that's only if you're on it hard.
(Optional Reading)
My dad is a tree hugger slow driving type. He didn't like riding in my street/strip 64GMC. Speed scares the **** out of him. I think I've told the story here before. He asked me for a ride to the Chevy Stealership to pick up his truck one time so he gets in. Starts asking what's all the switches for, what's the buzzing noise, my fuel pump, why does the shifter, what's that gauge for, why does the engine sound like it's missing at idle, (big cam) blah blah blah. I took it easy on the surface streets but as said, at half throttle take offs it would bark tires pretty good and sit you back in the seat. He didn't mind that much, kinda liked it but said, you're gonna get a ticket. LMAO. Getting on a long freeway onramp, I got all over it. I thought he was going to hyperventilate. He didn't have time to say **** but catch his breath in full throttle first gear when the tires finally hooked, then hit 2nd the ass end up the truck went sideways, by this time he's screaming, LET ME OUT, LET ME OUTTA THIS BITCH, **** THIS, LET ME OUT, I"LL WALK.
So by this time I'm now on the freeway doing about 90 in 2nd at 6500rpm with them 4.56's engine screaming. Hit 3rd and let it settle back down to 3000 rpm which is where I cruised on the freeway which was about 60mph. Remember speed limit was 55 back then. Of course with headers and Turbo Mufflers it wasn't quiet at all. He didn't like that truck ATALL !!!
He saying ****, you better slow your ass down or I'll just get out and walk.
I'll save that story, but my dad end up wanting an older truck. I found him a nice shape 68 3/4 ton that didn't run for cheap. I ended up building him an engine and transmission for that truck. I'll just say, he bitched about it all the time cuz I snuck some adders in the engine and transmission. Pretty much tried to keep everything RVish. Notice said, ish
It had one of my previous cams in it that was pretty mild and he had some good compression and a Stage 1 kit in it.
He used to get home from work and tell me I need to do something with that truck. I asked why? He said, I can't smash the gas cuz it goes to fast, don't want to shift and when it does the tires bark.
Now who the hell complains about to much power?
