Torque Converter wont seat (input shaft messed up?)

[SWRT]

I pulled the engine and figured I'd change out the front input shaft
seal while I had the engine out since it was only $10.

HOLY CRAP I cant get the torque converter to go back in.
Anyone have any easier ways to get it back in?

As you can see the shafts are 4" off of the seal.



The input shaft is 2" off of the other shaft



All of the splines/teeth on the shafts and in the converter look fine.




It seems any way I try and push this in it wont go in. The seam weld is always
in front of the bell housing. It's annoying. Should I just keep trying or is the input
shaft not how it's supposed to be?
Does anyone have a picture of how it's supposed to look?

[07Evolved]

if you move the cv axle shaft, it should free up the input axle shaft for the torque converter and it will pop right in. it worked for me. get a buddy to turn the cv axle while you put constant pressure/turn the torque converter. does that make sense?

[BoostedSubie]

I had to pull the engine with my first Legacy to replace the rear main seal and i did the front pump seal (input shaft seal). Well, i replaced them, went to put it all back together and had the same thing happen. The torque converter would go the first two drops but not the third, it stuck passed the bell housing like a half inch. I kept trying and trying but couldn't get it. So, i finally took the tranny out and stood it up on end and played with the input shaft. My buddy told me there is a washer inside the transmission that had fallen off to the side which wasn't allowing the input shaft to drop into its correct position. After playing with it for awhile i got it to drop into place, then the torque converter popped right in no problem. I don't know if this is what you are experiencing, but it sounds like it to me. I learned my lesson, be very careful not to pull on the input shaft when replacing that seal.

[SWRT]

Dang...you guys are awesome I appreciate it. I'm gonna give the CV thing a shot first since the trans is still in the car right now, but if that doesnt work I'll take that crap out and give that a try. Better than paying someone to do this. I'll probably have to try the second option this weekend though. Thanks a lot guys! I'll let you know how it goes

[07Evolved]

good luck man! the cv axle trick should do the trick.

[SWRT]

We freakin got it! The input shaft had pulled out about an inch or so.
I tried the CV trick and I didnt hear anything trying to seat so I looked
inside and it was definitely off. We tried shoving it back in, but that didnt
do anything so we took a brass hammer and tapped it a few times and it
went back in. The torque converter seated just fine, so we're gonna drop
in the engine and hope for the best. Hopefully I didnt destroy something
inside the transmission We'll see. Thanks for all the help guys!