Installing 01 Taurus Oil Pan Gasket

2001 Ford Taurus SES 80,000 miles with 282 cid (3.0L) Vulcan engine. Engine code is "2" (flex fuel) which is same as engine code "U". Replacing the oil pan gasket requires removal of the exhuast Y-pipe. I am not able to get the rear or the Y-pipe, i.E, the catalytic converter, out. There does not appear to be adequate clearance between the front of the engine, the frame and possibly the axle. The repair manuals I have read indicate it should just slide out after the Y-pipe is separated from the exhaust manifolds and the exhaust pipe. Is there some trick I'm missing or is additional disassembly necessary?