e36 engine change advice

[jbh]

as above have got an e36 sitting that were changing the engine on. it a 318i auto now if it was ours it would be getting picked up by the grab ill get that one put right straight away.. the old engine is out new engine has had the loom swapped and spigot bearing removed and auto flywheel bolted up we had the torque converter bolted to the flywheel and tried to get the engine back in but no joy we couldn't get it lined up.

so through some advice we removed the torque converter and sat it on the gearbox spline then tried to get the engine back in but still cant get to meet up with the bell housing. it looks to be lined up perfect and we can even fit the long bell housing bolts through and get them in a few threads but it still wont meet fully up to close the gap up between the bell housing and the engine..
is there any thoughts on this..

now before any one says it I've lost count of the amount of engine changes I've done but this has me completely stumped. the engine has came from a 318i manual the same age.

if it wasn't for the fact the owner can only drive an Auto I reckon I would have converted this and had less hassle

[DanThe]

Turn the engine by hand while mating them up, shouldnt be a difficult job TBH

[DanThe]

Turn the engine by hand while mating them up, shouldnt be a difficult job TBH

[Andyboy]

STOP!!!!!!!!!

Take the gearbox out again, stand it on it's tail and spin the converter until it drops down into the oil pump 'ears' with a 'thunk'. What's happened is that the two ears on the converter input shaft have not engaged with the oil pump. If you carry on as you are, you will break the oil pump and you'll be needing another gearbox.