thanks for the replies again.
yeah i'm positive it needs a rebuild. When i got the car everything was original on it and the transmission doesn't look like it's been rebuilt. I have another one in my yard, but that one looks bad. for one the inner downshift lever looks as it has been twisted off (by the way i got that one from my brothers friend). I have no clue how that happend.
the main thing i was looking for in troubleshooting it was to see if it could possibly be replacing something simple such as the modulator valve or putting in new seals rather then clutches or a new pump. whatever it is i know what i have to do now.
Thank you all for helping me out on this. I appreciate it very much.
-Aaron