cruciform

Hi, I have a 91 4runner that ran well, but has a rod knock, I dropped the ft diff, oil pan, etc. and found that a couple of the rod journals were scored, and the bearings toast. I obviously need either a new crank, or to have my existing crank ground..
in order to remove the crank-
Is it easier to move the engine forward, or to push the transmission back? I have a cherry picker, and a med duty floor jack.. i can buy one of those harbor freight transmission cradles for my jack, to possibly make it easier, but the thing is a bear, and being an auto, weighs a ton with the transfer case.
Any write ups on crank removal anywhere? I searched, but didn't come up with much.


thanks!