the website that sells lodima paper has a huge section on perfect negatives
developers &c for lodima paper ... it is in the "writings" section at http://www.michaelandpaula.com
I have never been able to judge which contrast grade of paper I will use until I print the negative. Sometimes negatives that look hopelessly thin to me will only print well on grade 2. Other times a seemingly bulletproof negative prints better on grade 3. My advice: get your hands on some Lodima grade 2.