LA 360 Engine refresh?

All of the above is true. i have never dropped one out the bottom but would consider it if I had a lift to raise the car up away from the engine K frame assembly. As far as "easier" I don't know if there is such a thing, I for one don't like working off a creeper, when I was younger, yes, now no. I would cherry pick it out the top, leaving the trans in, but I have experience doing this and I don't figure its difficult. very little time on a creeper. Now with a lift, its a non issue, you put the car up, pull all bottom bolts, lower down, do the top etc. With headers, there is an order of operations, I remember lowering one side in with the engine as i lowered it down, I seen to think it was the right side, that took tow people one to hold the header, one to lower the cherry picker. manifolds, they come out the top. The exhaust studs go into the water jackets ,the ones on the very end. if you break one or pull one and there is antifreeze, that's normal. i remember being young and dumb drilling out a broken exhaust stud, anti freeze came out, i figured Id ruined the head, went to the yard and got another one. this was back when they were a dime a dozen. One thing I have learned is, old cars are fun but not necessarily "easier" to work on than new ones. mechanics in the early 70s still complained :)