I'm so close, but it won't go that last little bit.  The bolts to the bell are just shy of starting to thread and the splines are engaged (I think) because the output shaft won't turn any more.  I'm assuming the input shaft won't go into the pilot bushing.   Any tricks to get that last bit?  Is it OK to use longer bolts and very slowly draw it in or would that screw up the bushing?  I DID use the alignment tool....not sure what the problem is.

|UPDATED|7/1/2012 7:37:17 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

OK, got it to mate up front (pulled it out a bit and then pushed back in and it went far enough to start threading all the bolts - regular length.  Gently tightened all and tranny sucked in pretty easily)  but now I'm on to my next crisis.  The bolts on the back don't line up with those in the bracket on the X-member.  Can I just use a crow bar to line things up?  It seems like the tail of the tranny needs to shift to the right just a bit which makes sense because the way the engine is sitting right now the fan would rub on the right side of the shroud.   Engine is on both motor mounts now (obviously) but the bolts are just loose so hopefully there should be some play.  

Sometimes even with an alignment tool, they just don't wanna go all the way in first try. Sometimes, also, in the process of installing the pilot bushing, the end of the bushing can get buggered up.
You can lever the tail of the trans over to match the mount holes. However...if it seems like something isn't right, stop, and double-check everything. The engine mounts may not be exactly like they should be, or could be out of whack for some reason. How far off are the holes, anyway? If it's just 1/2" or so, that's not too unusual. If the are 1" or more out of kilter, there's a problem somewhere that needs to be found.

Joel, it's probably more than 1/2", closer to 1".  And I think the whole motor/tranny combo needs to go a little forward as well as shift to one side.   Dang.  I did look at the motor mounts last night. They're installed right, but there seems to be a lot of play, the brackets are quite a bit wider than the frame attachments.  There's no way to get the bolts to tighten without deforming the mounts.  Is that normal?  

Uh....no. There is only a small amount of clearance between the ears of the mounts and the frame bracket, normally. Sounds like your new mounts may be defective or something. And...before anyone asks,  ALL small block/big block mounts are dimensionally the same.
You may want to add in some shims/washers between the mount ears, and the frame bracket, once you do get everything lined up properly, so the engine/trans won't be tempted to wiggle around. Either that, or....and I hate to suggest it at this point...get some different mounts....

Dave, when you mention x-member I assume you mean the welded transmission crossmember. What motor mounts are you using, the original or Energy Suspension (poly)? Also are you sure that the mounting brackets are properly meshed insde of the frame bracket? I would try to persuade the transmission to line up but not with any extreme force.

Yep, I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that the motor mounts are wrong.  They are just Autozone direct (supposedly) replacements and as soon as I bought them I was disappointed in the quality and debated seriously about putting them in -- looks like I made the wrong decision.  If I had checked them against the originals more closely or slid them over the frame mounts I don't think I would have, but, alas, I did not.  Lesson learned.  I think the plan is going to be to yank those guys outta there and put the correct ones in.  (I actually bent one a little bit last night when I was tightening the thru bolt before I realized there was a huge gap).   Tonight on the way home I stopped in at Napa and ordered some OEM's from them, maybe they'll be better.

Dave, I have THM400 and I used Energy Suspension mounts. Here is a link:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ENS-3-1120R/?rtype=10   

Dave, with the automatic transmission the crossmember is removable. here is what I used.

|UPDATED|7/3/2012 12:55:43 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I'm with Larry. Get the Energy Suspension mount. I've tried the AutoZone, NAPA stuff.
Put it in and forget about it.