Engine failure after oil change

I've removed the radiator, water pump, carburetor, disconnected everything else, and am ready to pull it this week, if I have time.

I'm just going to remove it with the transmission attached. Is it absolutely necessary to remove the cross member to do this? Any tricks on how to position the car?

What is the preferred way to connect the hoist? I plan on getting a hoist plate to connect to the manifold, but if there are other options, I'd love to hear about them.

I'll post some photos when I can assess the damage.