AOD wont shift

i have an AOD out of an 88 T-bird with a B&M shift kit behind a carbeurated 351 windsor. I have 1st and reverse, but it wont shift. its a stock torque converter and im having to rev up to 2k before it starts locking up. When taking it for a drive its obviously slipping in 1st and will not shift at all. Im wondering if my TV cable set up is right, I had to make it all because im squeezing all this into a 98 mustang with longtubes. does the TV cable even need to be hooked up just for it to shift? i thought its just to make it kickdown when you romp on it so it drops a gear and takes off quicker? because when i took it for a normal drive i didnt even hookup the cable, shouldnt it still go through the gears?