[pfordamx]

OK so the transmission is back on the engine with the pads machined and we have a 1/8th inch gap inbetween the converter and flex plate before bolting them together. and doing some measuring before we put the trans in the pads hit the flexplate about a 1/8th inch before the snout bottoms out in the crank. so hopefully this time we don't damage the stator shaft. we also found out that since we have to space the transmission back 1/4 inch the factory guides don't center it and that the converter snout wasn't slipping in the back of the crank locking everything up when pulled together even though the pads weren't even touching the flexplate. so through some careful manipulation and pulling the trans up slowly we got everything together snout in the crank and everything turning nice and free. so car and engine/trans will go together this weekend.