I wish I have better memory to help...

about 4 years ago, on a trip to Oregon the water pump on my Suncro broke...
Scott replaced the water pump with me as a helper... we worked for 6 hours
straight, without removing the pulley or the muffler... I don't remember
how we did it...

today I went under the van a have a look.. I notice that the metal cross
pipe (under the pulley) was flattened just a bit - nor even .5"..

this could be your solution...

please ask if you need a pic of it...

dan