Possible bent flex plate?

[loganmossmusic]

So I put in my motor after doing timing belt and seals. I have the transmission mated to the block, and after putting in two of the bolts for the torque converter, it made a metal hitting metal sound and is too hard to rotate further. ( I also am not pulling really hard for fear of breaking it) The flex plate looks to maybe be slightly bent (I can rotate the engine a few degrees) Could that be binding up with something in the bellhousing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D23nBxzY ... re=mh_lolz (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D23nBxzYDWA&list=HL1348191111&feature=mh_lolz)

[02_Legacy]

Is it possible that you did not fully tighten the first one and so when tightening the second one it pulled the torque converter to the flex plate and thus made the first bolt stick out from the flex plate? Do you know what I am saying. I would say take the second bolt out and try to push the torque converter back in toward the transmission then try to turn it.

[loganmossmusic]

That could be it. I heard a pop or a sound of stress being released; perhaps a bolt coming out a little bit.
Thanks, I really appreciate the suggestion.

Also is it okay to spin the engine backwards? I am pretty sure that with the non interference SOHC it's okay, but would like to be sure.

[02_Legacy]

The issue with spinning the engine backwards isn't that the valves will hit the piston, the issue is that the timing belt can skip a tooth beccauae now you are changing the location of the slack in the belt. If it is necessary there is not much you can do about it but if possible try to go in the right direction.

[Dead91silvia]

Even if it is bent, bolting it up tight will take care of it anyway. The TQ converter if what the starter runs off of so it's not a big deal...

All the rest of the info I read seems to be good. Just snug everything, and when all bolts are in, TQ them down as needed.