My friend and I decided it was impossible to get the oil pan out of my '65 544 (B18) without lifting the engine some. The drain plug threading was stripped and we have a spare, and so decided we'd replace it and learn a thing or two about B18s. This is the first time we've lifted one and it hasn't gone perfectly. We took out the battery and radiator and disconnected the exhaust from the manifold, then lifted the engine some. Disappointingly it was lifted too high and the bellhousing made an impression in the firewall/battery tray area. I also bent the throttle linkage, thinking it had been fully loosened when it was not. Proceeding more carefully, we are very gently prying between the bellhousing and block, avoiding the flywheel. As this picture will show, it seems like the engine is quite far forward, but it still won't come loose!

I know this isn't the last B18 I'll be needing to lift, and I would hate to be getting this rough with a restored one. What is the correct procedure for convincing the block to depart from the transmission? Were we correct in assuming you can't remove the oil pan without doing this?