[jvginpdx]

answering my own post. I knew that the torque convertor was not in all the way. when I heard the POP noise I thought that the nipple thing on the torque convertor popped into the crankshaft. But the noise could also have been a broken item in the A/T front pump. I stopped for a while while I investigated and nursed my sore back.

I got a dial type meter to determine if the flex plate was bent. It was, and badly. It got tweaked when I tried to install the engine cock-eyed. 35 bucks for one from the wrecking yard, for a replacement. I looked at the nipple on the torque convertor, it appeared to be distorted. I ground off some metal with my dremel. I did a test fit into the crankshaft, all ok. Then I removed the pump from the transmission. I took it apart to check for cracks. None found. I was lucky.

I ordered a new O ring seal and the front main seal. I do not want the dang thing leaking, just because I wanted to save a few bucks. Too dang difficult to fix later.