Thanks for all of the comments.

"You may have put 200 lb. into the cables and watched the front end come up slightly. This may not have been sufficient to break the head loose..........."
Of course, this might be right. I quit adding tension when I observed the head's front pull-point (non-technical term there) starting to bend somewhat. At the same time, the engine was lifting upwards.

How I'm using the engine hoist: Chain fed through each pull-point and attached to the hoist's central arm/hook. Seems like a reasonable method...

I'll be back on this project tomorrow morning. Oh yeah, picked-up a 4.5 lb. sledge yesterday to persuade that head if necessary:fork_off:

I will, of course, exercise care if I gotta use it w/the piece of wood.