Found in transmission pan
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Bought an 85 ram with a 727 and put a new engine in it, fired it up and the transmission has all gears except reverse. It also had no engine braking in low so my mind went to it being an issue with the reverse band. Pulled the pan and found what I can assume is a piece of the reverse piston and I think I can see the crack on the piston where the piece comes from.

Ideally I'm going to get this fixed, but being the weekend I don't have access to the parts I need. Just wondering how bad of an idea it might be to pull the piston out, take out the shim that activates the band, and re assemble the transmission without either. I understand I wouldn't have reverse but would it damage anything if I ran the transmission without it until I could get the right piston?

Also any opinions on stock vs aftermarket reverse pistons?

 

If you take it out the band will just be flopping around, Leave it in till you have time to change it. The plain stock pistons are fine, If it was a 46RE then yea use aftermarket(they where made of plastic).