Ted, If all of your shifts are late and hard, then you probably just need a kick down cable adjustment or a new cable. If only the 1- 2 shift if hard, then you probably have a condition where a small plastic check ball has worn down and passed through a separating plate in the valve body and into another passage. I do not remember the exact location or part number of the plastic ball. I believe this condition has been discussed previously on the Brick Board. You might try checking the archives if no one else responds with more information. This is not a real major operation, but I am always nervous about making internal repairs on a transmission with this many miles. It seems that sediment or crud can break loose and cause other valves to stick. If you attempt this repair yourself, be sure you do not use red rags or any other rag for that matter around the innerds of the transmission. The lent can cause valves in the valve body to stick. Good luck.

Robert