Frank, I had the same ouchy twinge you did when I saw the converter still on the flexplate. Larry, disco the converter before you pull the motor, and leave it in the tranny just long enough to get the motor out of the way, then pull it out of the tranny oil pump so the weight doesn't distort the tranny front seal. Pain in the butt to get at, but a LOT safer, unless you are dead sure you can pull the engine straight forward without any deviation at all.

Not responsible for advice not taken...