Drop the cross member eh? :-)
Just did it. Tough job. Heavy item. It can be done though. The only other way to get the pan out is pull the engine.
I've done both , that is, pull the engine and remove the cross member to get the oil pan out. 50/50 on which way I would go if I had to get at that oil pan again.
If you go the cross member route, I can provide lots of info to hopefully make it go easier.
'03 Silver Birch. Stock rebuilt 4.L 32V DOHC, V7-JT blower w/ADTR racing supercharger kit, Shift kit in transmission, stainless works long pipes and cat backs, Ridetech coil-overs front, shocks in back (ADTR kit). Rebuilt calipers, upgraded front rotors, OEM Mercury wheels, [boost, oil P, WB fuel/air, and fuel pressure] gauges. Build duration was Dec 2019 to Mar 2022. 8 rib serp belt upgrade i/p.