[V]

well when i used to run my caddy, I tried several ways.
Started it in OD...D...2nd...and 1st
Bone stock and modded, the best result for me personally was starting in 2nd.

I'd put it in 2nd and let the trans do the 1-2 shift itself, then i'd do the 2-3, and i just cant remember if i went to OD, it was like 6 years ago. i dont think i did stock, but after mods i had to i believe.

Shifting every gear manually gives you a larger chance to over rev and damage something, especially 1-2 shift. For some very odd reason, when i left in 2nd and trans did the 1-2 shift, It would actually chip both tires on the street and at the track. I could leave lines on the street from the shift, that was great. However, I beat on that car ALOT, and one day while driving normally, i just lost every gear except 2nd. I took it to one shop, pat barret tranmissions in westwood(just the name really, not him) and they told me I needed a full rebuild for 1300, and all he did was scan the car(check engine light came on for it) I had my boss at the tiem scan it and call our trans shop with the error code.."shift ratio B error", and we were told there are 2 shifter solenoids in the trans, one right above the pan, and the other on top inside the trans. I bought the solenoid for like $25 and towed the car to that shop that night. at 10am the next morning they called and it was done. When he dropped the pan to check, the lower solenoid was in peices and hanging by the wires. I paid him 100 for labor and i was good to go. i guess my point there was that shifting an auto not built specifically for that, can and most likely will, cause problems. I just got lucky.

oh, and let me also add, my trans then is nothing like yours in design and such. and mine was holding around 340hp