How do you install transmission for 1998 ford explorer?

Answer 1

"can not get the transmission close enough to bolt to the motor"

The torque converter and the transmission have many splines on the shafts that connect the two, if you already have the two mated and just can't get the last half inch to meet try rotating the crankshaft while wiggling the engine, this will help the splines meet and the two should " clunk" together.

If it doesn't work pull the engine back forward, and as you meet them together rotate the crankshaft and the splines should meet up nicely, all you are missing is the last step in the shaft, so the up and down ans side to side wiggling of the motor in conjunction with the rotating of the crankshaft is important. It will be really obvious when you have it, the engine and bell housing will meet nicely, it is also important that you have the engine and trans on the same angle while mating, the hole that the shaft enters is exactly the same size as the shaft so angle is crucial.

Inside the torque converter is another spline, this is the one that is tricky, it is almost never lined up so that the splines mesh, banging or forcing the two together will only damage the inside of the torque converter.