If I have to pull it from the top ?

I understand about trying to preserve a pristine engine compartment. I'm tempted to recommend removing it from the bottom. It will preserve the dent free, good paint environment you have. What I don't know is what kind of environment (and how much space is available) you're working in.
You won't need to remove the hood. Removing the engine from the bottom means also that it easier to re-attach to the transmission than in the car. It adds, as a minimum, however, the need to "re-clock" the torsion bars, disconnect the steering column, and to check the front end alignment. You'll also need a dolly to hold the engine while the body is being lifted off of the K-frame.
From my experience, the prep time for taking the engine out from underneath was much longer than over the top. Once I got to the actual lifting, the foul language and damage to the engine bay was much less. I also got to leave the hood on the car. The big drawback, as I see it, is that once the t-bars and LCAs are out, the car is immobile.