Oil Pan Removal

Hey guys I have a '77 caprice w/ a 350
I want to replace the oil pan and put the one piece gasket
How can I remove the oil pan without moving/raising engine...could I just have the front counterweights and maybe wiggle it out?
If I can is it ok to lift my engine by the oil pan with a phone book/2x10 piece of wood

It's usually never a good idea to lift the weight of the car by the oil pan even using a "buffer" such as a phone book or block of wood. The oil pan is difficult to get out because that flywheel is right in the way and will usually not allow you to slide it back far enough to get it out and clear the front cross member. I have removed the oil pan on a Caprice before, but I had the transmission out and after taking the flywheel off, I think I was able to slide it right out after unbolting it. At the time I was simply replacing the pan gasket and didn't want to pull the engine either, but the transmission was already out being rebuilt which made it easy.

Yeah exactly what he said ^
there really is no other way around it unfortunately