Unable to Move the Torque Converter Backward and Away from the Flex Plate

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We're getting close to being able to pull the 460 block. All that's left is to slide the torque converter back and away from the flex plate, then remove the engine block to bell housing bolts.

For some reason, my B&M C6 transmission does not have a removable inspection plate. We ended up removing the four torque converter nuts via the starter hole in the engine back plate. Problem is, we cannot get the torque converter to slide backward, deeper into the bell housing. We tried gently tapping on the studs with a hammer, but the converter won't move. Interestingly, when we turn the engine using a breaker bar and a deep socket on the harmonic balancer bolt, it's pretty obvious that the torque converter is loose, as the studs wobble in their holes.

I do not wish to pull out the torque converter with the engine and risk damage to the converter, the input shaft, or the pump. I'm not even sure that I have enough clearance at the front of the engine to move it that far forward without removing the radiator.

That torque converter should be able to slide backward, far enough to completely clear the flex plate.

Any ideas?