I was able to remove the lower bolts completely. There was enough side play when the nut removed that the bolt head cleared the footwells. The shock absorber on the firewall side slid free enabling the bolt to slant out and clear. I ended up referencing the DMax article, but didn't order any shims.
I was 1/2 inch low at the cowl so I estimated I needed a 1/8 shim on the engine side, IAW with the DMax article. I had a shim like you do in your photo, (1/8 inch) on the bolt head side of the mount, which wasn't doing me any good, as well as on on the engine side. So, long story longer, there was a concern about the stackup by adding another shim, so we removed the firewall side shim and relocated it to the engine side, in the spirit of the "As Required" note on the shims in the IPC. That made the engine rise right at 1/2 an inch at the spinner.
Side note, DMax was the shop that hung my motor initially in 2012 so I cant account for the shim shenanigans. I'd have brought it to him if it wasn't halfway across the country.
I have a before and after of the spinner but none of the in process. I will admit once you remove the lower bolts, you are all in on this one.
Mike