Thanks guys. I repeated this post in the "performance paddock" section and got some advice there we tried to follow. While travelling down that path we fashioned a brace that bolts to the front of the dampner on the crank after you take off the pulley. We put it across the engine bay to bear on the frame rail where the self leveling hydraulic reservoir normally sits (three bolts take it off), with a bit of plywood and a chunk of the flat bar to protect the rail. While the bolts bent (my dampner is aparently peculiar and uses wimpy fasteners to hold the pulley on), that big bolt finally came out.

I have been posting some photos and progress in this thread:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=187710

We are going to try to get to the point of removing the oil pan today. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)