I gave the valve body a going over. Everything seemed to slide ok, nothing rough or hanging up. The tension from the springs seemed ok, as far as I could tell. None broken.
Decided to put the valve back in the car with fresh fluid to see if anything changed.
Test drive...car now shifts normal.
I drop the pan. There are now metal flakes at the bottom of the pan, silverish.
When I first dropped the pan, it was more of a fine particulate. Now, more like small shavings.
It is as if I had a back log of metal junk accumulating somewhere, and my messing with stuff loosened it up, and it got purged.
Not sure, but drained it all again, fresh again, shifting fine for now.
Keep you posted...
GREAT LINKS...THANKS!!!

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1990 300TE....all comments are about this car...in case I forget in the actual post