Help ! Can I remove the trans, but not the converter ?

See the notches cut into the Torque Converter? They have to match up with the notches inside the front of the transmission. If they do not match up it can be pulled together and there is where you ruin the pump. It is far easier to put the converter on the transmission and spin the converter until it kinda pops/drops in place then bolt it and transmission to the engine. It's all about the feel! Feel the pop/drop!