does my 1999 savanna van have i valve body cable on the tranny?

Yes, there is a shift cable, so that would be one thing to check. How is the oil in the transmission when the van is idling in park and warmed up? Is the level proper? Is the oil clean and red or dirty brown and burnt? When was the last time you replaced the fluid and the filter? No reverse and delayed up shifts to 2nd are not a good sign, as I am sure you know.