I usually use a second jack under the oil pan with a heavy chunk of wood to support it, just enough pressure to support the engine. If you slide the crossmember out from under the mount, those upper bellhousing bolts are much, much easier to work with, that little bit of angle is well worth removing the mount in my opinion. Ask ten guys, get ten answers. The slick trick is to use those longer bolts, beats the heck out of setting her down on the ground and going back up in the hole. Glen
Editing to say I would definitely just pull the inspection cover first to look at the flywheel teeth, you may have been lucky and escaped serious damage. If you were close, I would come help you do it. I just replaced a broken starter bolt today. The second one I have had to replace, the first one on my own truck. The nose bracket was in place, the other bolt was tight, this truck has less than 36,000 on it....