Hi, all, I am new to this forum. I own a 1998 Lesabre Custom with a bad motor. I got the good motor from my 1997 Lesabre which had a bad body from being hit by an oak tree branch. I have been working on my own vehicles for around 20 years, but this is my first motor swap. I got the motors out and swapped, but no matter what i do, I cannot get the flex plate and the torque converter to line up. One set of holes is off by barely 1 millimeter, the other set off by a bit more. The donor motor is from a 97, which had the 4T60E transmission. The receiving transmission is in a 1998 (4T65E). My research says that with some differences, the 4T65E and the 4T60E are essentially the same as far as mounting. The torque converters are different part numbers. They looked the same when I inspected them. Is there a "trick" to getting the torque converter and flex plate to line up, or do I need to put a new torque converter (and possibly flex plate) on my motor swap? The bell housing bolted right up, as did the large passenger-side motor mount. It'* just that the torque converter and flex plate holes will not line up. I've tried jacks with blocks of wood to support under both the engine and transmission; I've tried doing the lining up with the bolts partially undone and then jacking; I've tried about everything I know to do.
Any help appreciated and thanks in advance,
Gray Bach
Latta, SC

I've personally done this twice. Too many times really.

Sorry to say, but your gonna have to pull that engine out partially and swap flexplates. I doubt the TC'* will swap, but I do know the flexplate will swap over.

Thanks much for confirming that. I kind of was afraid that whatever I had to do
might involve pulling the motor again, but at least I know for sure now. I appreciate you sharing your expertise. I'll get the hoist in the next few days (I can't work on the car this week because we're having a massive tree in our yard trimmed; it'* the tree from which a branch fell and destroyed the back end of the car to start with) and give an update when I do. Again, thanks...

LOL, no worries sir. I think all wrenchers make 1 time mistakes that probably won't happen again.

But, yes please keep us updated.