What do you mean the rear of the motor hits the firewall before you can get it off? You mean if you're jacking it up, it's hitting the upper portion of the tranny tunnel?
If you drop the cross member, so it's pretty much just dangling by the lower control arms, it should be cake to get the oilpan off.
If you can, post pics of what you're having issues with, and we'll try to figure it out.
-john
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