and for the mod on the servo to eliminate overlap, cant i just ditch the accumulator spring under the valvle body? i was told by doing that it would bring a firmer 1 to 2 shift.
No. The shift overlap problem has nothing to do with the accumulator spring. In fact if you ditch the accumulator spring it'll make 1-2 shift overlap worse. The servo mod I am referring too is disassembling the rear servo and replacing the inner cushion spring with a spacer. When the servo is activated by pulling the shifter down in low gear the large outer spring is compressed. When you shift to 2nd it releases but as it's doing it the inner cushion spring extends prolonging the time it takes to fully release the rear band. When that happens it's in 1st gear and 2nd gear at the same time for a second or 2. Even though it's just a second or 2 it's very detrimental to parts being locked up at the same time like that. Plus it makes for a rough shift that actually slows you down. If you do the rear servo mod your fine doing the accumulator mod which does firm up the 1-2 shift but you can't just "ditch" the accumulator spring or the accumulator will be slamming back and forth each time it shifts in and out of 2nd gear and it'll break. You have to put a spacer under the accumulator to prevent it from moving. A spacer is nothing more than a piece of round rod 1/2" o.d. by 2-7/8~3" long. Even a piece of heavy wall steel tubing will work.
maybe i should just pull the valvle body out of the transmission and bring it along with the shift kit to a transmission shop and have them put it all together that way all i'll have to do is bolt the valvle body back on and be done.
If your going to go that far why don't you just take the complete trans. that way they can do the rear servo mod. and will have the tools to properly adjust the bands and torque things down. That is unless you have a inch lb. torque wrench. With the trans out of the vehicle it doesn't take long at all to install a kit. If you were close to me I'd do it for $50. My guess is a shop would probably charge $75-125 depending on their labor rate and the amount of time it took.