Originally Posted by 87tdwagen

IMO Sounds like the bowden cable slipped off of a mount, either at the ends or a chassis brace. You said was working fine, came to a stop, didnt shift to 2nd afterwards until reaching 35-40mph. To me this sounds like shifting is now 100% fluid pressure/vacuum controlled and not cable controlled. I would look at your throttle linkage to bowden cable and ensure that as the throttle cable begins to move the linkage it is also moving the bowden cable. If not, adjust till it does. The other end would be the cable linkage to the trans. Lastly, depending on your installation, if the bowden cable is attached to the chassis/body to hold an arc, make sure that fitment is still present.