I hold my trans in first, and it will actually run up to my 8500 rev limit.
The trouble with that is there is a small delay between when I move the lever to second, before it actually shifts into second.
I had to shift at about 5500, and the delay would then actually shift at the 8500.
I used a shift light to know when to shift from 1st, to 2nd, so I could hit 8500.
The other gears all shift when the engine ECU said to shift, which the shift points were bumped by changing the clock crystals in the ECU.
This was not on an ES300 trans, but the original A340E with an IS300 pump, and overdrive assembly behind a built 7MGE.
This may not work on an ES trans, as I know in the later autos they started playing with more computer control of converter and clutch lock up to get what seemed to simulate more gears.
A340E shifting at 8500 rpm
Noticed I just missed the 1-2 shift on this pass, as it bounced on the rev limiter just a little.
After adding the shift light, it would just hit the rev limiter a little less, so that the engine would just come off full power for a millisecond while the trans shifted. Helped tearing the bolts out of the torque converter, and crank shaft a little.
Finally called it quits on this trans due to no one being able to build a true high stall converter for it.
the most I ever got from anyone was about 3200, which was way to low for this engine.
I really needed something up around 5000 due to the mods.