So to lift the engine with a lifting bar, will replace engine mounts and lower inner bushings, will drop the crossmember. Best places to lift from?

 

I did the exact same work on mine and lifted from a factory bracket on the driver's side, and a chain slung under the exhaust manifold on the passenger side. It worked great.

 

With other engine removal projects we usually hook the chains to a factory eye hole, or if thats not available, find a beefy bolt that screws into the block and fix the chain around that making sure the bolt is tightly secured and cant shear/break off.

 

So is just the eye hole sufficient, or do you use an additional point? Seems like the eye hole is too close to the firewall and a bit thin to support the entire motor, thanks.

 

The rear eye hole is pretty flimsy. Find a different point. Use your judgement and connect to sturdy bolts and to locations which will help balance the motor during removal.

 

There are two eye holes. Besides the one near the passenger side firewall there is also one on the drivers side close to front of motor (look straight down). If not removing the engine, this front eye hole is the only one needed to keep the engine suspended. I had a chain going to the rear eye hole also as a backup but there was slack and all it really did was bend the eye hole forward.