Try to loosen up all the bolts, and start them a little at a time and make sure your tq converter sits flush/flat on the flexplate, it has to go in perfectly straight.

 

Ok, so after I read your post 15 minutes ago, I went down and tried it... 6 hours of ****ing with those bolts and all I had to do was loosen the other ones..

 

Haven't been on for a couple of days, so sounds like you're making some progress. If you haven't figured it out by now, CCW = Counter-Clock-Wise. Not much play in the bolt holes, so install everyone one, loosely at 1st. Torque them after all installed. While you're under the trans can you check the position of wires on the O/D speed sensor (located at forward left side). Who ever messed with my trans before broke the plastic on the wire harness, so all I have are 2 loose wires (pink and green) with no plastic connector. When connecting to the trans, which color wire is toward front of trans, pink or green? Good luck on the torque convertor bolts!

 

How did you line the torque converter up with the flywheel??