My SSEi has 78xxx miles on it, 100% stock (until this weekend) and I'm starting to get some surging action. I'm going to take it into the shop to have the tranny looked at....hoping this doesn't cost too much to set right

Im assuming that you've done a transmission filter/fluid change at least at 50K if not a little sooner?!!?!?!

I bought the car with 73xxx on it. The original owner kept good records up until about 35xxx or so and then stopped. Not sure if it changed hands or if he got tired of recording them down. SO, I've no idea of the fluid was changed or not. My symptoms are like most everyone else here, most noticeable on small inclines under slight acceleration. Mine usually starts in around 1500 RPM'* in 2nd I think...haven't experienced it in any other gears yet, but it does seem to be getting more noticeable

well just goto the store and get the stuff for a tranny change... member to get DEXRON 3 automatic tranny fluid.

So I took it into the shop and had the guys there check it over.....nothing! Not a thing. Had them pull the filter, no evidence of any problems there, just a little chunk of clutch material which I'm told is normal. Replaced the filter, changed the fluid, sent me on my way. It'* still doing it, but until I learn how to control it I don't know that anyone will be able to find it to diagnose it.

This problem (as zuluhead has described) has been described to me as torque converter shudder. I don't know exactly what that entails, but I am fairly sure that replacing the torque converter is part of the repair. Don't quote me on that though.

It is quite possible that by only doing a pan drop on your car (which only replaces from 30-50% of the fluid), that the rest of the old fluid that is in there is still causing the problem. Many people do not like transmission flushes because of their ability to work loose crud in the engine that may be keeping things sealed up. If you do not feel comfortable with a flush, then maybe 2 pan drops would be a better choice (or 1 pan drop to replace the filter, and a suction line down the dip-stick tube to suck out the fluid after you have driven it for 200-400 miles).

On a related note, I had this same issue with mine last year. I haven't experienced it yet this year, but when I was having the issue, if I were to tap the brakes, it would completely go away (which is why it led me to the TC issue - when you apply the brakes, the TC will unlock). I also think that I had gotten some bad gas that might have made matters seem worse than they actually were.