Long story short, i dropped a lifter in the oil pan when removing the cam. Obviously i can't pull the oil pan out because of the crossmember being in the way. At the moment my heads are removed, everything in the front is out of the way, can i go ahead and pull the motor from the top? Or is it still recommended to do it from the bottor? I figured the top would be easy since i'm just down to bare block now.

 

Pulling the engine from the top would be easy at this point, but getting it back in assembled (no point in reinstalling just the shortblock) will require you to tilt the engine almost on its end and will require the right cherry picker with some specialty hoist tools.

You can pull the oil pan just by lowering the K-member. You don't have to remove it, just let it drop away from the body and the oil pan will come out. Kind of a PITA but still easier than pulling an engine.

 

How much can i get away with by pulling it from the top and trying to reinstall a few things on the block. Like you said there's no point just installing the block, it would be nice if i could just install it all completed. Here's a picture of the picker i'm using:





And here's a pic under the hood:

 

Ok i just ordered this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LT1-L...#ht_500wt_1377

Is that the special hoist tool you were talking about?

 

That looks like it should work. I would bolt it on the valley (cover removed) as far forward as possible so that you can tilt that engine. I've got pictures showing how its done somewhere... I will see if I can dig them up.