I find it much easier to seperate them, and pull the engine from the side. Why hassle with the trans if you don't need to? You have to remove the hood, remove the shifter, drain the trans, plug the rear, remove the drive shaft, disconnect the speedometer, etc. Nothing complicated, but adds more time and effort to the job that just isn't necessary. Then you have to reconnect and adjust every thing oncve it's all back in. I bet it would easily add 2 hours to your job, and probably more like three.
Get out a tape measure and see how far it is from the nose to the center of the engine. It's a long way. I have a standard shop crane, and it won't safely lift the engine with the boom extended out that far. It would be even worse with a trans attached.
