You were correct although a day too late. I am just getting around to posting now...but I did find the plastic safety plug that had an allen head in it on the lower portion of the bell housing. The night I posted I was ready to start making a rig to use on the slide hammer and stood the transmission on end to measure the distance between the holes on the mounting ears and that is when I noticed it. Took the plastic bit off and the torque converter slid right out. All external seals are changed and the trans is ready to go in. At least it is posted for other users that may not notice right away as I did not. A little ironic that the little plastic safety bit and my lack of noticing it right away caused me to injure my finger. My fault...those germans thinkn of everything. Thank you.