Ron, the plate is not necessary...but it does keep you from making A BIG booboo. You can remove the converter bolts without the plate, but the plate keeps everything lined up and plugs the passage into the bell housing. Without the plate if a bolt falls down into the bell housing while removing it can jam, ruining your chances at turning the engine over to access the others. Just be mindfull and careful. Take your time, use a good droplight and mirror, ensure each bolt head is fully seated to your hex, and use "dumdum" or other tacky agent to secure it. Have a magnet nearby too! The hardest part is reassembly, my best suggestion is get them all started and wound most of the way in before fully torquing any of them. Even though you have to rotate the motor all the way over twice, it's WAY better than cross threading the torque converter which can be easy. Don't drink too much coffee before this procedure!
