leon2982,
The bellhousing won't crack, but if you are going to remove it, you will have to support the engine at some other location.
If you lay a piece of 2X6 on top of a hydraulic jack, you can lift the engine from the pan. This works well, is plenty strong, and allows free access to the bellhousing and transmission area.
Lift only enough to clear the rear motor or tranny mounts.
It sounds like you are on the right path, but remember, the physical appearance of the clutch and pressure plate can be misleading. If they were cooked and consequently glazed, they might appear fine, but can still cause chatter.
Stuart
