The motorcycle jack worked very well for me, meant for bikes twice the weight of that trans and at the same length as the trans/xfer case. Plus it was extremely easy to wheel around. It's been awhile since I've used a trans jack, I mostly press them in by hand, but this trans was too large to do so. So I can't compare the two.

 

Ok I finally made the drive up to get the spacer... and this is what it looks like for all you peeps that can't remember....

 

so after looking at the picture what are your thoughts on if I really need to remove the tranny all the way...or just move it back a few inches and then move the spacer up and over the converter out of the way... then put the new one back in... and slide it all back together....

So what say you?

 

ok update on this mess... looks like the tranny has to be completely removed and then the flywheel has to come off as well... seeing the ring around the starter motor is behind the flywheel and there are two studs that the ring slides onto to stay put... this is getting to be a nightmare... specially in the cold and snow...

Someone put threadlock on the bolts holding the front driveline to the yokes and now I can't get them to come undone... nothing is going right....

 

A bit of heat will free up that lock tight.

 

I have an '83 F250 with a 6.9 and the starter mount cracked off just like you described.
With the weight of the starter and the torque you'd think they would have made it just a little wider at those fracture points.
Thanks for the photo and description, now I know what to expect.
I presume you got it done without additional surprises.