crank seal cover removal

[wengr]

Hello, in my quest to do most everything I should do while my head is off, I decided to change the front crank seal. I did the aux shaft seal with no problem but I can not get the crank seal cover off. either I'm missing a bolt or two(unlikely), or the bottom is stuck and held up by the pan gasket. Iv'e got the front four oil pan bolts out and all the bolts on the face of it out but still really stuck at the bottom. Here's the problem - I don't have the ability to raise the engine and take the pan off. I need the pan to stay put and I cannot destroy the pan gasket. But, in attempting to pry off the crank seal cover, I have broken it's seal around the top of it so if I just give up and tighten it back down I know it will leak. Is there some trick to this or is it just not possible with the pan in place? thanks in advance.