How to drop transmission for access?

My 2000 Windstar started peeing the driveway more and more frequently until it got out of hand. I got under it and finally found it is leaking from the servo cover on the back of the transaxle.

There are 3 bolts holding it on and the topmost bolt was out about 1/4 inch. Attempts to thread it in resulted in only spinning with no grip... it is stripped.

Problem is that there is a crossmember right in the way so I can't get a drill or tap in there to repair the damage.

I need to either lower the transmission about 1-2 inches to get at it -or- remove the crossmember which appears to be welded in place.

I haven't been back out to investigate the options for lowering the tranny, instead, I thought I would post the question here since I probably won't get back to it until this weekend.

Any ideas, will it be too much work?

Should I cut the crossmember out and then weld it back in place when I'm done?

Thanks!