While I agree that the bottom is preferred, the top is possible. I've had my motor out the top at least three times now. Last time was during the 04 SCCA National Championship Runoffs when my harmonic balancer came off bending the crank. We did an overnight engine swap in about 18 hours which is near book time and we had the added difficulty of pulling out and cleaning all the oil lines to the accusump and oil cooler.
To do the top we use large jack stands and three jacks. In a snapshot, we removed all the electrical connections, exhaust, top a-arm joints to spindle, removed the radiator, powersteering rack, ABS block, alternator, unbolt the clutch housing and slide the motor forward slightly using one jack on the front of the subframe, one on the back, and one on the spot on the torque tube to hold up the tranny. With the motor forward we hook it to a hoist then unbolt the engine from the subframe and move it forward and out. :cheers: