To do an in car cam swap is lifting the engine a solution? I've got a lift, it looks like it would make it easier. Would lift it give me enough clearace? Would it harm the transmission?

 

You don't have to lift the engine. Only thing you'll need to do is slightly bend the bars in front the radiator in order to slide the cam all the way out. Not that hard.

 

Mark is correct.
You don't have to lift the engine to swap cams, BUT, I would lift it and completely pull the oil pan and replace the oil pan gasket and if you have the two piece rear main seal, I'd replace that also.

I've tried doing the " loosen the pan bolts and pry it down a little to get the timming cover....."

And I've tried the " trim a little bit off the inside corners of the seal groove so you can get the cover past the pan...."

IMHO, if you are going to go through the work of replacing the cam, raise the motor, and pull the pan.
It doesn't take that much longer.
Yes you have to drop the exhaust and pull the starter, but didn't you want to install those shorty headers too?