Like MintFord said... I did my 97 F250 5.8 that way. It was really tight, I was actually surprised that I got the oil pump back on - what a b**tch. But it beat pulling the engine or the plenum (which would have required removing crumbling, rusty exhaust tubes.)

As for the exhaust pipe bolts... heat. I refuse to do anything dealing with exhaust unless there gas in the oxy/acetylene tanks...