If you have the money to buy converters I'd say 2nd gear is the way to go. I just can't see the converter lasting to long with that kind of heat. By the 5th run my times were falling off and the truck felt sluggish launching. Don't get me wrong I had my best times with it. But I wasn't cutting no 2/10 off of my time. I did have consistant 1.7 60's but my best 60's were 1.6's using first. The mph is there using 2nd but there's nothing like the feel or site of a 1st gear launch.