Crank Pulley Removal (Failure):
The next job is to remove the crank pulley so that the timing cover may be removed. The instruction manual says that, ideally, this is an engine out job. However, there is a shortcut method that involves supporting the engine on a jack and removing all three engine mounts and then jacking up the engine so that the pulley clears the front chassis cross member.
I don't know what the guy who wrote this was smoking. It is not possible to lift the engine enough for the pulley to clear said chassis member. When the engine is lifted, the bell housing comes into contact with the transmission tunnel well before even half of the pulley clears the chassis member.
After this failed attempt I decided to try open the crank pulley securing nut to see if I could be able to slide off the pulley from the narrow gap between the crank shaft end and the front chassis member. This too ended in failure. I applied all my strength via a 3ft long pipe on the pulley nut but without any success. I am guessing that in the past when the engine was taken apart this nut might have been tightened using a striking spanner and hammer.
So as maters stand, I will have to abandon the plan to correct the valve timing. I find this very annoying and completely contrary to my OCD behavior.
Next step will be to proceed with refitting the head.