Yep sticking with the veterans on this one. Just trying to get the correct angle on something or working around something will take more time than pulling and doing it right.
Pull the engine. if you need a hoist or engine stand. Plenty of used on the general sales markets like fakebook or Graig or the bay. Hell skip the hassle and do the harbor freight thing. I have used mine on many non auto projects and it folds up pretty compact for what it is.