Manual valve body

My 64 Signet has a reverse manual push button 1962 big block 727 transmission with freewheeling first gear and was built as a race trans by Dynamic for the Signet, it's got a 3000 Dynamic convertor. It's been in my car since around 1990 and fits behind a small block roller cam 360. I am getting tired of pushing the buttons and I am getting tired of the slamming hammer like shifts, but it's fun to wind it up and drive :) At times I wish it worked by itself but it don't. I'll be 70 years old in November...

It must be an AGE thing. I am 71, and I have pushbutton shifter in a console between the buckets on my 66 Cuda. 170 slant six, 904, manual VB using the "Direct Connection" kit, and a 8 inch converter. I, also get tired of pushing buttons, on the street. AS for the slamming gear changes, if you shift early, the slippage in the converter helps to cushion the shift.