Finally got it. We used a longer pipe and I stood on the engine stand while my dad leaned on the pipe.
I pulled the front cover, breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed I ordered the right gasket/o-ring combo, then promptly sliced my thumb open on the CAS drive gear

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-Ted
-1986 Mazda RX7 Sport [DD/beater]: engine finally let go at 205k. parts car status.
-1986 Mazda RX7 base [resto-mod project]: S5 n/a swap in progress.