When I mention "minimum throttle to move the car", that also means just a "hair" enough that it will move the car AND the min-throttle upshifts will take place. Once with the kickdown linkage adjusted to get the 2-3 upshift at the mph I mentioned, if you accelerate with normal throttle, the upshifts will also be a little higher, too, which is where you notice the car feeling "peppier" and more energetic with just that small change. A more enjoyable car to drive AND keep up with quick-moving city traffic.
Getting the slightly-higher upshift speeds, after the shifts occur, the torque converter will be "more solid" and engine rpm will be more related to road speed. When the upshifts occur too soon, after that 2-3 shift, any acceleration is "on the converter", with more throttle, and a more-labored feel to things. That's the way out '72 Newport Royal 400 2bbl was as it upshifted 2-3 at 25mph. I'd already done the "more preload" adjustment on the '66 Newport 383 2bbl, so I knew the difference it might make. Plus, on the TFs with part-throttle kickdown, that will happen a bit earlier too, making the car feel more energetic, too.
Also, on the '66, whenever I'd need to do a "merge" situation, I'd put the trans in "2" and manually upshift at approx. 55mph with less throttle than if I'd been using it in "D". Chrysler's orientation seemed to be that if acceleration was really needed, you'd be at WOT or you'd be relying upon engine torque to do it, as if it was a manual trans in top gear. So, to me, better to use less throttle and get more acceleration with it. It worked well for me.
This orientation might have been fine in the "slower" earlier '60s and in smaller towns where traffic might more slower anyway. But in a larger metro area where the traffic moved much quicker away from a red light turned green, you got left in the dust and needed close to full throttle just to keep up.
As emissions standards were later measured in "grams/mile" rather than "parts per million", having a slower-turning engine could have been a way to help meet the standards, but it certainly did NOT help the way the cars felt to drive!
CBODY67