When I "dropped" the engine out of my 914, which is the only way it comes out, I really needed a lot more than 20" of clearance to pull the motor out through the rear of the car. I actually took the front tires off and jacked up the car from the middle to give me enough clearance to pull it out. For an american car I think the lift (even if it's just 20" of height) will be kind of a hassle, unless you're a tall guy. It would be too much like trying to pull the engine out of an old lifted 4X4. You would have to be standing on milk crates just to get to everything.