Well you guys are amazing. I took both advices and in the 4 hours I was able to correct the flex plate and get the transmission in. I only have two bolts holding it right now and found I need to put washers in there because it barely is passed the limit but I'll take my win! I'm hoping to have this done tomorrow but I'm not counting on it because how this whole process has gone.

 

I'm having a hard time installing the last three bolts, top two and the driver side left above the dowel. Can I Loosen the other bolts and take the jack out so it tilts? Or any other trick? I'm worried maybe they are completely lined up.

 

If the trans is on the dowels the bolt are lined up

 

OK you experienced people I got another hang up that's fighting me. I'm on the last torque converter bolt and it won't go in. The other two went fine. Is it possible by just putting the other two in with my fingers that was enough to maybe misaligne it?

 

Went back and took the second bolt out and it felt way tighter than hand tight then loosened the first. Second one won't go back in either now. Thinking I need to undo the converter and try to realign it.

 

Never tighten any till all started , never use bolts to pull converter forward. You will also note one bolt hole in the flex plate is smaller or square . Put that one in first .

 

I can't even get the second one in now

 

OK I think it was a combination of things. I tries the original bolts and it's definitely better. Problem now is that third one still is misaligned a little because it's catching on either the flex plate or maybe my shim is off a little.

 

Patience you will get it .

 

Just a basic opinion. Blue or red loctite on the bolts? I've read 15plus threads and it seems 50/50. I feel better about blue if there is future work as red seems over kill but at the same time I don't want future work because the blue isn't enough.

 

Blue IMO though on my own car since i bought new GM bolts they already had some sort of blue thread stuff on them and of course since it was a billet converter it had 6 bolts pads and my aftermarket flex plate had 6 staggered holes to accomondate the two GM converter sizes I put bolts in all six holes.

 

Think I found my problem. My shims seemed off with the holes in the flex plate. I'm going to bore them more open and try again later after work

 

I'm going to set it on fire. One of the torque converter bolts won't go in more than half way

 

On ocassion It has been nessesary particularly with some after market plates and or conveters to enlogate the hole a little in the flex plate to get arround the issue you are having

 

Im sorry, what flex plate are you using?

 

Oem flexplate. So only thing I've seen with elongating the hole is a corvette forum and everyone was roasting him and saying bad idea. I very much trust you so you think it would work?

 

Just enough to clear threads. Remember the converter is held center by the crack pilot not the bolts they just hold it to the flex plate . Not sure why you are having the issue but seen it pop up a few times over the years in the forums and it seem enlogate is the general solution in the end and I have never seen anyone post back it caused any issues I have done it many years back puting VEGA converters behind V8s with TH350 and 400 hey it what we had but never had any issues resulting. I mean they should just line up but seems you have covered about every possible idea.

 

I got it. My first go around on the bolts I must have missed putting one of them down snug when I started torqueing the other. Just got all three seated but gotta go get more damn loctite

 

Nope jk same thing. I start them on one pass, finger tight the next, then with the ratchet once I feel it get tension is stop, and was about to torque and yup the one is backed out and won't budge. Gonna elongate tomorrow

 

It's gotta be the tc is stripped out. I elongated and it's definitely not catching anymore and it's the same mount pad every time