Firmer 1-2 shift?

Hey all, I've done a lot of reading on shift kits and I've found that almost everybody prefers transgo, I also noticed it's possible to modify the valve body yourself without a kit and save some $$. Now I now that wouldn't do everything the transgo kit would but....

I've got a supposedly recently rebuilt 727 in my truck behind a mild 318 and I like everything about how the tranny works except the shifts are very soft/slow, I like the softer 2-3 shift but I want a harder 1-2 shift....

So the ONLY thing I would want from a shift kit is a quicker/more firm 1-2 shift, can this be done with out purchasing a $100 kit?? I know I sound like a cheapskate but I don't like spending money and doing things I don't have to, especially to get extra things I don't need.

Any body done this?