Assuming that you've got all four tires on the floor while you are doing this, a little rise of the whole front end as you take the load off of the springs by lifting the engine can be expected . If your mounts were really crushed, then you may have to raise the whole thing quite a ways to get the clearance that you need. The engine should rise eventually if your engine stop is disconnected. I hope you've taken the necessary steps of loosening the radiator shroud, disconnecting accelerator linkage, and having rear wheels chocked (both ways).

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'79 240D