well the problem im having with it is, when i go to start it, it revs real high and doesnt come down. so when i put it in gear it shifts real hard into drive or reverse and wont come out of first tell real high rpms. but when it warms up, it shifts good

 

sounds like a few things. possibly a vacuum leak. idle air control valve. bein an 88, is it still carb or throttle body fuel injection? if carb, could be choke issue. doesn't sound like it's tranny tho. i'd check all the vacuum hoses, then pull the idle air control valve off and clean it well. double check all wiring connectors too.

 

yea its throttle body, thats what my dad thinks it is, is the idel air control valve. I just started and drove it home and it ideled and drove like a champ. My brother has been helping me with it and said he couldnt find any vacum leaks. He did spray crab cleaner towards the egr valve and the car almost shut off, not sure if thats normal or not.
thanks for the fast reply and help

 

if it almost died spraying near egr, i'd say that's your culprit. with egr, pull it off and clean it out real well, or replace it.

 

There is a screened gasket you can get off the help section at you local parts store that will help keep carbon chunks out of the pintle valve on the EGR.I suggest you get one of them.