Can anyone comment on whether or not it is easier to mate a new engine to a tranny currently in a 2005 GMC Sierra or should I remove the tranny for the mate process and put both in the truck as one unit?

 

Just drop the motor in by itself.

 

That's what I was thinking but heard a couple suggestions that I should mate them outside the vehicle, but seems like unnecessary extra work to get the tranny out.

Any tips on getting the torq converter and flex plate bolts aligned and tightened? Based on the fun time I had getting them out, i am not expecting it to be easy.

 

Push the converter all the way back, mate the engine to the bell housing. Put a bolt through the flex plate and spin the torque converter by hand until it hits the bolt, then pull the bolt out, turn converter just enough to find the hole, and the using a big screwdriver gently press the converter torwards the flexplate via the small inspection hole and bolt it in.... pretty easy actually. The converter should be very easy to spin by hand, if its not, then its not seated all the way.

 

What's the easiest way to rotate the engine to get to the next 2 bolts

 

when i swapped converters i had my cousin with a socket on the crank bolt..

 

I got a bigass flat head and spun the flexplate by leveraging it against the bellhousing through the inspection cover

 

I personally would do it in two pieces as mentioned above. The advise on bolting the converter up is what I would do as well. The one thing I would add is to make sure to use the slotted hole in the flex plate first. This hole will be the one with two flats on it. By starting this one first the other two will be lined up perfectly when you get to them. Make sure to take a look at the thread I started with torque converter installations. This thread will help you with checking or adjusting torque converter spacing! Good luck with the install and have a great holiday. Vince

 

All great points. i put my tranny on 2 jack stands and a jack (or use a tranny jack which i didnt have one at the time). i only lowered it a little bit compared to where it was at. *you have to take the tranny crossmember out to do this* i slid the engine in, got it bolted up, put everything back in (radiator/efans/water pump/AC bracket/exhaust) i then got under the truck to finish the job up bc i was working alone and wanted to make sure everything was done before i moved on to another part of the truck.