Oil pan removal?

I have a 1995 Tacoma 2.7L, 4x4 regular cab with 3" suspension lift. I have my manual and it has a tedious amount of work to do before even getting close to removing the oil pan. I'm wondering if just unbolting the engine block and jacking up the engine, if that would be an alternative to the manuals way of doing it? I read some thread in custom tacos where some guy did it but was real vague on the details.

Put it this way, Haynes manual instructions tedious work:

1. Remove steering stabilizer
2. Remove Exhaust pipe from manifold to rear of exhaust system
3. Remove front cross member, but that is only on 2wd from what I can see
4. Remove A/C compressor and bracket
5. Remove alternator and bracket
6. Remove crankshaft position sensor
7. Remove right and left stiffener plates
8. Remove transmission brace
9. FINALLY oil pan

Any suggestion to the latter idea? Jacking up engine?

Thanks!!!

 

In all honesty, the fastest way to pull the oil pan on the 4X4 1st gen trucks is to bite the bullet and pull the front differential. Only other way is to pull the engine. I have tried SEVERAL different short cuts to see if I could do it, but nope, not happening.

 

Thanks BamaToy!!! No other way around it, diffs got to drop.

 

I was gonna say damn mine was easy...but that's what happens when you remove your front drivetrain and suspension

 

or you could do this, it makes the oil pan very easy to remove. Might be harder to get it together.

 

The oil pan will drop right off if you remove the trans filter. I believe its an 8mm wrench if I remember correctly....

Edit: Sorry, that's for the 3.4l

 

Thanks everyone! I chose to drop my diff. Here some photos.

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Trying to figure out why my photos aren't showing.....hmmm.