1988 dodge ramcharger transmission problem

Any chance you could post a photo of the part that's coming apart? I'm visualizing the washer and wire clip that holds the kick down slide in place on the shaft where the throttle cable attaches, but that might not be what you're referring to.

Thats exactly the part that is popping off. Not on the throttlebody but on the transmission. It sits on a little ball and shaft right above the shifter linkage from the shifter in the truck. the kickdown is above the shifting switch thats what I think might be slipping and not letting the truck go in the missing gears. But I can't see if its just spinning on the shaft that works the gears.

There is a stamped metal clip that goes around the end of the linkage that might have popped off. Regardless, that only sets the shift points. It won't affect it going into the various gears.

With that kick down linkage disconnected, you will find the 1st to 2nd shift will always occur at around 20 mph regardless of how hard you're accelerating.