I did not solve it unfortunately, I put in a brand new modulator and no change
I tried one more fluid drain and fill and there were pretty large shards of metal in the fluid.. so I am assuming something is toast inside the transmission.
But, swapping the modulator is easy if anyone ever needs to do it. and by fixing the vacuum leaks I did get 1st gear back, which i never had with this car.
With all the other issues the car had and parts it needed, and now a bum transmission... it has now moved on to the great junk yard in the sky. RIP Lucy, your brother Linus misses you :,(