Anyone ever taken the converter off a '55 Imperial?

I need to do some work on my 331 but unfortunately I've been outsmarted by the torque converter. It's got a ring gear around it so apparently there's no flywheel. The adapter between the block and trans is still in place, there is one bolt left in the adapter, it goes to the oil filter. I can't get that bolt out, since it backs up to the converter before it comes out. Maybe if I cut this bolt and slip the adapter out, I'll have more room.

I can see the six bolts that appear to hold the converter to the crank, but they're about 10" up there and there's no room for a socket at all. I'm supposed to get them out with a wrench? Kind of hard to do when the engine is held up in the air by a hoist.

Either I'm really dumb or this is a bigger PITA than I was hoping. Thanks for any help.

 

The converter has 8 studs sticking out of it, so you have to remove the 8 nuts to pull the converter. You need a long wrench and probably one you can heat and bend to fit. Its been a long time since I have pulled one but I recall it is a PITA.

 

^^ the pain in the *** is finding the correct pattern to bolt it back up.
make sure you mark something before removal to help "clock" it appropriately on install

 

I have never worked on that particular one but it should have a flex plate that bolts directly to the crank in the center and bolts/nuts connecting to the torque on the outer perimiter............. you might be able get to them by removing the starter and turn the torque/flywheel until you see them.