How Hard Is It To Remove Crankshaft On OM617?

[Squiggle Dog]

I have an OM617 5 cylinder turbo diesel engine that will be converted from an automatic to a manual transmission. I am using a 220D flywheel. I already know about having the flywheel match balanced to the flexplate that came off the engine.

I have been wondering: how hard is it to remove the crankshaft from the engine and then have it balanced to the new flywheel? If I did this, then I would know it was perfect. The engine isn't really bolted in, and I plan on replacing the crankshaft seals anyway.

The flexplate that was removed from the OM617 engine has some chunks taken out of it when the triangular flex disc broke, so I am worried this might affect the reading.