Another PTC vert I have would not bolt to the flexplate because the crank bolts would hit the vert body. That one did not have washers welded on as does another I have so it is back at PTC to find out what is wrong. The other I have is mounted now and engages the crank / flexplate just fine. It also seats well into the tranny pump and is back behind the trans flange maybe 1/2" (didn't measure) but I don't think I have 1/8"+ clearance between the fully seated vert and the flexplate with the trans bolted to the block. I will undo the 4 vert bolts and see just how much of a gap there is (which will allow for expansion) but I ask: How much gap is required?
I suppose that a guy could measure the flexplate and see how far out from the block flange it is and the vert to the trans case before mounting them together, to get the dimension.