My car would drive normally and then shift to 3rd and get stuck in it where it would bog down hard. You would have to restart the car to get it to move and not allow it to go to 3rd gear to get home.

So I baught a surge box. I totally bypassed the tcu, thinking it was the problem, i was wrong.
1'st gear works great and shifts into second great.
Going to third gear does not happen, it stays in second. So you must shift to 4th gear at what point you must let off the accelerator for it to engage 4th.

From here you can downshift to 3rd where it will engauge aND BOG THE CAR DOWN VIOLENTLY, you must shift to 2nd to continue driving.

Can any of you experts tell me whats going on?

Sounds like your torque converter clutch is locking up in 3rd, may be a problem in the valvebody.

Like the little steal ball may have worn the internal housing out?