Ford 4500 Reconnecting 4sp reversing tranny. Right sequence?

Today I hope to "un-split" my 4500 Industrial TLB with a 4 speed power reversing transmission.. Engine has been rebuilt and I have a new torque converter and flexplate.

My question is about the best way to put her back together. To get proper torque on the torque converter and flexplate bolts, it makes sense to attach these items to the flywheel before putting in the engine. The issues then is making sure I have proper alignment of the transmission spliced shafts and torque converter tranny oil pump tabs.

I read a forum where someone suggested first putting the torque converter on the transmission for ease of alignment and then trying to bolt the flex plate through the starter hole with a bent wrench. Is this possible. What are your thoughts? What would you do?

I bought a repair manual, but it must be from an earlier print edition comma because it does not have chapters 18, etc. on the power reversing transmission. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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The factory service manual says to install the convertor into the trans mission making sure all splines and pump tabs are aligned.
Use heaving grease to hold the spacers in place on the engine side of the drive plate.
Remove the steering gear housing to gain access to the convertor
Move the engine and transmission together making sure the pilot hub and convertor pilot are aligned.
Install the engine to transmission bolts finger tight only.
Using the hole where the steering gear set line up the bolt holes in the drive plate and flywheel and install the eight bolts and lock washers finger tight.
Rotate the fly wheel two complete turns to center the convertor pilot and drive hub the tighten all bolts the specified torque.
Reinstall steering gear.

This is not word for word but is how they say to put the engine and trans back together by remover the steering gear to gain access to the convertor bolts.
I have a complete set of factory service manuals for 65-74 thousand series ag and industrial tractors.
Personally I think it's a bad idea to mount the convertor to the engine first, I've never seen it done on a tractor but know some guys that tried it on their cars and pickups and ended up breaking the pump.

Destroked, you are awesome. I got the engine in today. Your advice it was perfect. I already remove the steering gear for refurbishment, so I was leaning that way. Very easy to hand thread the 8 bolts, rotate the engine a few times, and torque everything down.

To help out the next person, I attached a few photos. Very easy to access the flexplate bolts through the steering column access. New flexplates come with the spacers welded on, so no need to hold them in place with grease like the old days.

Great day today. Growing up, my dad never bought new cars or new transmissions. Whenever one was down, he'd send us to the junkyard to get an as-is transmission. Needless to say, my brother and I spent many a night in the barn bench pressing transmissions into the old cars. So much easier with the right tools, jack, chain hoist, etc.!

Again, thank you so much for taking the time today to help me and many others on this forum. I will post some pictures the completed job.