Rear Main Seal pains

I just got a new XJ, 91 4.0 5 speed, 230k on it and it runs like a top... the only problem is that it needs a new rear main seal... badly.

Now I've read a few of the guides and they say pushing the old upper seal is supposed to be pretty easy, right? Well the one that's in this jeep is probably the factory seal and it's absolutely frozen in the block.

I've used a punch and a hammer on the wire inside the seal to no avail, it just won't move. Has anyone been in the same situation? I just don't know what to do apart from loosening the other main bearings, but I really really don't want do do that.

I just did mine today and I used a bottle jack and a punch that that did the trick.

You just jacked up the punch into the seal? I like how you think... I'm going to try that tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.

Yeah it lifted the engine up a good half inch atleast before if came loose.