As far as I know, the torque convertor can be lined up with the flexplate in any of the four positions. The engine isn't really all that hard to pull out if you have any experience in pulling other types of engines. It's just bigger and way heavier that your typical gas V8. If you've never pulled an engine out before, it would be best to have someone with some experience to at least supervise you. No matter what others may tell you, you only have to pull off the hood in order to pull these engines. NONE of the accessories need to come out with the engine either. Everything will lay over to the side enough for the engine to come out. I do use some mechanic's wire to hold the accessories over to the side since they have a bad habit of slipping back in the way when you're putting the engine back in. I pull the radiator, fan, shroud, and the pulleys off of the balancer and the water pump. Lay the accessories to the side, unhook the wiring harness, grounds on the back of the head(s), fuel lines, and everything underneath. Then it's basically ready to come out. Watch the wiring, A/C lines, and fuel return line at thee back of the engine when going in and coming out. You can rotate the engine sideways if it helps going either way. I lift, move forward, lift, move forward. A little bit of one then the other until it's out. I tried not to oversimplify things, or write a novel that would make War And Peace seem thin, but I did this for a living for just over 6 years, so what's super easy to me, may not be to someone else.