Thanks for all the replies! Now that the center panel is removed I don't think this will be a problem at all. I did hacksaw off the starter cone from the front pulley too to give an extra 4" of clearance at the front of the engine. Couldn't use the hand starter anyways.
While the engine is out I'm going to repaint the engine bay, and I'm thinking about tucking most of the wiring loom that runs in front of the battery back under the dash behind the firewall out of view.
