Folks frequently post that they're able to do it simply by removing mounts, exhaust system connections, and lifting the engine high enough to clear the cross member. But it's a pain working under the car that way, safety is an issue, and not much more work to go ahead and pull it in my opinion. Provides for more certainty that when you put it back together everything will be clean, properly sealed and torqued. And, while you've got it out, anything else that needs to be done is relatively easy to get to.