i take out the top 2 bolts from under the hood and the next 2 down with a wrench, Then the rest with a 14mm socket. i leave the trans in the stock location, y pipe on the cat, driveshafts everything. im in the middle of doing 1 right now dropping in the new motor in about a hour. under the truck there are 2 little tin heat shields on the p/s d/s i rip those off and it gives you all the room you need for those bolts This has worked for me a bunch of times

 

I have a 1998 blazer I would like to know how to remove the engine since the bolt are close to firewall there is no room

 

Im wrong there is only 2 bolts on the top of the bellhousing on these trucks... its the LS1 bellhousings that have an extra bolt in the center. either way, I found it easiest to remove those bolts from the top and then get the bolts on the side with a few long extensions. there was one bolt i couldn't really get at with an extension on the driver side, so i pulled the motor mount (had to come out anyways). That lowered the engine enough to gain access. I didn't touch the transmission cross member or t-case anything.

I didnt think i was making any extra work for myself...

 

On my 95 blazer I lifted the body and could get access to the top two bolts from the sides (remove wheel well liner). Broke them loose with a box end wrench then got a ratcheting box end on to complete removal.

At first I was intimidated at the body lift but it turned out to not be too difficult. Remove all the body mounting bolts except the rear two and loosen those two up. Put an hydraulic jack next to the body mounts just to the rear of the wheel wells and lift away. I got more than 4 inches of lift which was relatively roomy (i.e. not impossibly close) for removing those bolts. Had to disconnect the front bumper mounts so that the front could lift further.

I never tried the "drop the trans" answer. Maybe that's actually easier but this wasn't too bad-- mostly delayed by attempting to get by without disconnecting all the body mounts.

I am sure the original poster has finished this by now but who knows who else is looking at this problem.

 

I just did my 2000 blazer rebuild as well, personally I know how the tranny bell bolts suck. I cut a 2 inch hole in my floor board, removed the bolt and pop riveted a new piece of sheet metal over the hole, sealed with foam to make sure no leaks, way easier!!!