Did not remove torque converter and can not get it back in. Drops past both splines but lacks 1/2" of being far enough, seems it's not going past the flat spots on converter snout.

 

Voila! Pump shaft was sticking out too far would not go in so i loosened pump bolts, shaft fell in place, then converter!

 

Typically you have to wiggle it in and get it past 3 steps, not 2; the last one seems to be the trickiest. Should not have to do anything with the pump..unless you don't get it all the way in then the pump will get destroyed.