722.3 Transmission Problems

First off, I would like to make it clear that I am not in the mood to listen to purisits ranting to me about how my modifications to my engine MAY have hurt my transmission. If there is proof of that in what I find after fixing the problem I will have no issues admitting it but until that point...NO LECTURES PLEASE.

The history of my transmission:

When the car was accuired at 262,000miles on the clock I dropped the transmission pan and changed the filter/complete fluid change. The fluid was red, the tranny filter was clean, it had never been opened in its life. Has shifted fine up until this point, has NEVER flared between a shift and doesn't leak a drop of fluid. Dropping it into drive or reverse results is quick (about 1second or less) engagements of gears. Reverse will light the tires up (I am not joking). Fluid smells good however with 2 days driving of flaring between gears, it has a noticeable slight smell coming about it. Nothing horrible but I can tell its been disliking this problem.

That aside, the problem:

Out of the complete blue, the tranny in my 300SD (w126) starting flaring SOMETIMES. I say sometimes becuase occasionally it will shift perfectly...tight...firm...hammer a gear (a good sign). However more often than not, out of the blue, it decided to start flaring REAL bad on the 2-3 shift. The next day (massaged it as much as I could...transportation was a must) it started to do little quirks on the 1-2 shift and the 3-4 flare started to show up...not gradual like you would expect from a clutch/band wearing out...we are talking sudden.

What I have done/found:

First thing I did was disconnect the vac from the transmission (to hopefully firm up the shifts so I could make it to school and back today). No dice. It changed NOTHING. Checked the modulator with the mity-vac...tested good. Vac system works flawlessly...always has.

I checked the level of the ATF (it read a little high...but that wouldn't cause flaring RIGHT?) and I added just a touch more. Changed nothing (was worth a try...dipsticks never give me good readings). Also checked the coolant bottel...looked good...no ATF. I adjusted the modulator 1 turn clockwise and got no change. I pulled the modulator and all associated parts looked good. As I said before it holds vac and such and has never given me problems.

Next on the list, I drained the fluid. Looked good but was getting just the slightest of smell to it. Its been unhappy these past two trips to portland and back. Dropped the pan and had a good look. No flecks in the pan, no chunks, no metal, nothing. I dropped the filter (still looked new) and threw it in the pan for later.

Inspected as much as I could see...everything looked okay. I dropped the valve body off (both the plate and the body...and the pump pickup part that connects to the filter). I put these on some clean towels on the bench.

Kept inspecting inside the tranny...everything looked okay...still no metal or flecks of anything, just a lot of red ATF.

I went over to the bench and started tearing down the valve body. Couldn't find any problems (everything moved good...no broken springs....clean). and reassembled. The gaskets were still like new.

That leaves me right here...at my computer...typing this thread out heh.

Here is what I THINK is the problem...

For whatever reason, the tranny has lost the main line pressure. Now what I need to know/find out is if there is a pressure relief spring or something that I need to be looking at and see if it is broken. This tranny is virgin (other than the filter change I did) so it has no upgraded B2 piston or K1 spring. While I am all for upgrades, now is not the time to throw money at problems unless it is part of the solution...so unless you seriously think B2 piston or K1 spring is the problem, please refrain from suggesting their replacement. I doubt the B2 failure simply becuase the transmission has no problems with getting gears or holding them. Its between that is the problem. 1-2 is probably the best shift of them all.

So my question for you guys (and gals) is, do you think my hypothesis of the main pressure being low is an accurate one? If so...how would I go about repairing this problem? I came to this conclusion only becuase of the severe randomness of the problem starting and also the way in which it acts on all gears. I searched the forums (even the DIY pages) and all I could find was simple easy to fix stuff or old dead links to manuals no longer in existance.

Would the tranny still engage in drive/reverse so quickly if the main pressure was low? My car has the 2nd gear startout however I've never been able to just barely touch the throttle and ease off in 2nd gear...it automatically pops down into 1st as you are taking off...every...single...time (atleast from a standstill).

Any thoughts/help would be appreciated. As I mentioned at the top, please no "cute" comments regarding the tranny giving up the ghost because I am putting "more power than is recommended" through it...I would apperciate the professionalism.

Thanks guys...I gotta get some sleep...organic chemisty in the morning.

If nobody has any ideas what this problem may be, I guess I'll have to do my usual thing and persue the solution myself. Anyone have an online version of the tranny manual? That last picture is for those of you who think I am a jerk after reading this post....see I still have a heart!