RAT 2 (3) mod issues

[airplanehuh]

I recently bought one of the newer slant-faced versions of the rat 2 (i think this more like a rat 3, and it does say version "c' on the inside). It sounds completely different than my other led version rat 2. Upon opening them both up to compare I immediately noticed some differences. There are far fewer parts in the newer one. (I'll try to get some pictures posted up soon). I reversed a ruetz mod that someone had done to the rat 3...the mod didn't seem to work the same way as it did in my older one. I also began trying to change the clipping diodes and this is where my frustration comes in. In the newer one there doesn't seem to be enough voltage getting through the clipping diode section to actually light any leds. I've tried every configuration of diodes and leds that I have parts for and there is really very little difference at all between the configuration except for removing all the clipping  diodes or leds entirely, this sounded best so far. This makes me think that something is a bit wrong with this pedal. I did put in an ic socket and a new lm308 from smallbear, that so far is the best change but it didn't make it sound like my other one.
Does anyone in here have any experience with these newer rat 3's? I'm going to test and possibly replace a number of parts in the rat 3 and post what I find. One of the tone differences that bothers me the most is the fact that the filter knob has a totally different range. It doesn't get nearly as twangy as the older ones. Everything about the new one is much much too smooth to the degree that you can't really here the strings as much as you can with the old ones...I like the transparency in the older ones. It needs some balls and some twang that would make it deserve the name "rat".
I'd be curious if anyone else has already come up with some good mods for the newer versions...I haven't been able to find any info on this particular model...although I'm aware the differences are slight. Also, the new one has only one transistor, I might put a higher quality version of this in there too.