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I'm trying to reinstall the torque converter. The engine is out of the car and I was going to mount it to the flex plate before installing. The center guide from the converter to the flex place is a very tight fit and makes aligning the bolt holes very difficult. Is this the best way to install it or should it be put on the transmission shaft and then install the engine? I don't want to set the engine in with one process or the other and find out an issue could have been avoided. Thanks in advance for any input anyone has.

IMO, it would be better to have the converter on the trans. In addition to needing to go on very straight to avoid damage to seals and bushings, there are several sets of splines that need to be aligned in their respective positions so the converter can slide all the way into position on the trans. This means the converter generally needs to rotate some to get the splines all aligned as it is pushed into position. That step would be almost impossible to do if the converter were already attached to the flexplate.

The converter does make the trans front heavy so when lifting up the unit make sure to keep the converter pushed in and mated as things are tilted and maneuvered into position on the engine. You might even add a piece of wire to keep it in position until wire starts to interfere and needs to come off.

Thank you Howard. I saw videos being done both ways and wasn't sure which was best.

I've done this a couple of times and always had the convertor
mounted on the transmission. You have to turn the convertor several times to align the spines until you are sure it is completely engaged. That would be difficult(impossible) if the convertor were already bolted to the flywheel.

Thank you for the tip Randy. I will make sure to give it a few rotations.

Put a piece of wire around one of the studs..thru bolt hole in bell housing. To hold torque converter from coming out....put it lower hole so you cut it free

You are aligning 3 shafts..reactor. . high range clutch. And converter shaft.

You should feel 2 engagements.