Transmission question

Yep, if they removed your kickdown linkage.....#1 they don't understand what they are doing and #2 they are directly responsible for the failure of your transmission.

The kickdown, as was mentioned above, controls pump (hydraulic) pressure in the transmission, increasing it with the power setting (throttle position) of the engine. Without it a torqueflite will work, but only for a short time until the clutches and bands burn up due to insufficient clamping (hydraulic) pressure and therefore slippage.