I haven't heard anything back from my inquiry about the technique, so I've started the process myself. I also have a P0328, which "knock sensor high", so I'm tearing down the top of the engine far enough to replace the knock sensor, i.e. remove all the intake. I did leave the throttle body in situ because it has the coolant lines running to it, and I really didn't want to drain coolant from the block. If it gets in the way I'll go buy another pinch clamp so I only lose a little.
The general strategy that doesn't involve dropping the suspension member is:
- remove upper intake at least as far as you would to get to the rear bank of plugs
- remove the heat shield for the catalytic converter to gain access to the two nuts closest to the firewall
- remove all the nuts and bolts related to the cat and lower it out of the way
Sounds so simple until you realize that the space btw. the engine and the firewall is really tight and the angles of some of those fasteners is angled making using a ratchet and extension tough. I have small hands for a male and can barely reach my hands back there. I may have to get my wife to crawl across the top of the engine and shove her hands down in there.
It appears that removing the heat shield, or at least moving it out of the way enough to get access to the bolts may require removal of the A/F sensor in the exhaust manifold and/or the power steering pressure line that arches up and over btw the engine and the firewall.