[Healeys] o/d issues

[healeymanjim at hansencc.net]

my brother and i just took about an 800 trip in his healey up to portland and down the oregon coast.  this was the first long trip since the engine rebuild and everything worked great except for the o/d.  it took a long time to go into o/d and it was almost imperceptable sometimes because it took so long to engage.  going up hill and downhill it would slip out or try to disengage.  on flatland it seemed to do fine.  since i am a pessimist and always assume worst case scenario, my feeling is that the oil pump or the pistons have deteriorated and cannot hold it in o/d.  before we pull the o/d and tear into it is there anything that we are missing, i.e., electricial malfunction or operating valve.  it worked fine last summer and he did not use it since then.  any help appreciated.   hjim