I got a AW71 from a '86 744 at the junkyard for $27 because it was 1/2 off day at Ecology.
I installed the AW71 in my '79 245 (my BW55 was locking up in reverse).
Everything fit fine (header pipe, driveshaft, cooling lines from a '83 245)
I used my '79 (BW55) flexplate with the AW71 converter and trans.

Was I supposed to get a flexplate from a car that has a AW70 or AW71?

Killed it on the test drive. It started with a clicking sound from the torque converter area.
Stopped by AAMCO after hours and one guy said it was probably the flex plate flexing too much because the converter was too close to the flywheel.
He thought I should have changed everything from the engine back (incl flexplate).
I took it on the road and it started singing (not good) and found fluid pumping on the ground from the flywheel end. I had it towed home and drained three quarts from the pan (not dry).
Stopped by the back of AAMCO and the guy said the converter was probably pushing against the front of the transmission and tore the seal out and may have taken out the pump too.

I can get another one at the junkyard since it has a replacement warranty ($15)(the 744 may have been junked because of the transmission.) (I'll probably have to get a AW70, didn't see any Turbos)

I was able to pull the AW71 all the way up to my egine (without bolts) and the flexplate was touching the torque converter when trans bolted to engine.
Was there supposed to be a gap between the flexplate and torque converter (spinning free) before bolting them together?

Sorry for the long story - Jim

Are the flexplates different from a BW55 and a AW71?