How do you change the oil pan in a '72 Nova?

I have the motor mounts loosened, the pan is disconnected but lacks about 2 inches roughly to clear the cross-member and fly-wheel. Local mechanics here wanted $320.00 to do this job and that just seems horribly unrealistic. Are there an reasonable ideas you guys might have? I really dont want to rip the motor out of this car to perform this simple task, nor am I looking to dismount the Transmission. Thanks guysHow do you change the oil pan in a '72 Nova?
Unbolt the motor mounts, Jack up the engine a couple of inches or until it hits the firewall (be careful not to damage the distributor) and wedge some wooden blocks between the motor mounts and the frame....enough to give you clearance to remove the pan. Make sure nothing else is in the way of or preventing jacking up the engine like radiator fan shrouding or any cables,hoses, linkages that might be affected.


A Chilton or Haynes shop manual from a parts store or local library will help explain what is needed to do the job and pays for itself with a couple of repairs.How do you change the oil pan in a '72 Nova?
I'm assuming a small block V8?





Disconnect the battery ground cable.





Remove the distributor cap.





Remove the radiator upper mounting panel.





Remove the fan.





Drain the engine oil.





Disconnect the exhaust or crossover pipes.





Remove the converter housing underpan and splash shield.





Disconnect the steering idler lever at the frame. Swing the linkage down.





Rotate the crankshaft until the timing mark on the torsional damper is at the six o'clock position.





Remove the starter.





Remove the front engine mount thru-bolts.





Raise the engine and insert blocks under the engine mounts. Block thickness should be 2 in.





Remove the oil pan.





Installation is the reverse of the above.
Paul is right.Just jack it up by the harmonic balancer pulley(that is the big pulley at the bottom where all the belts go)and get more clearance.
Do what Paul is suggesting.