I am installing my first transmission and I am having trouble getting the torque converter to align properly. I have tried marking the location of the different gears on the input shaft, and I have marked the location of the teeth that the notches on the converter need to line up with, but I can't seem to be able to get the converter to push all of the way into the transmission. I have tried pulling the converter out, rotating the converter a little at a time, and then pushing it back in, but I seem to be having no luck. I think the end of the input shaft is catching. Are there any tricks to get this to line up, or do I need to just keep trying?
Thanks,
Joe

 

The ones I've installed, just popped right in.
What year is the car?
What type of converter?
Is it new or used?

 

The car is a 90 and the tranny and torque converter are both used.
I watched the guy I bought them from take them off the car together, but since I was driving from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and didn't have a strap he said it would be better if I took the converter out til I got home.
Thanks

 

Most people make the mistake of resting the TC on the shaft while trying to spin it and push it on. Hold the TC up and put the shaft into it. Follow the procedure of applying light pressure and spinning it clockwise. I believe it should "pop" 3 times. Keep the back (engine side) of the TC supported so as to keep the thing level while putting it on the input shaft of the tranny. You should have no problems then... And don't worry about marking the position of the thing, just keep spinning it until it pops on...

 

agreed.
It took me about 5 tries to get my TCI fully seated, when it does fully seat you will know it.