Ford Steetka Headgasket

Hi, doing the headgasket on my mums streetka because she decided it was a good idea to drive 10miles with the temp light on and steam coming out the bonnet... My guess is the heads going to be nakered anyway but I need to get it off to find out. The reason for the failure is the thermostat housing is cracked.. For a change! 

I work at a Landrover and Range Rover specialist so chains are nothing new to me but I thought I could get away with putting it at top dead, tie wrapping the chain to the cam pulley and taking the pulley off the cam and leave it dangling to remove the head (like a TD5) but there doesn't seem to be enough room because of the guides in the way so I cannot lift the head off do I have to remove the pulleys, timing case, oil pump and from the looks of it the sump??? I believe the 1.3 engine that also comes in the KA to remove the sump the gearbox needs removing because the are bolts behind the flywheel? (Could be incorrect just what I've heard) 

any my help appreciated what was suppose to be a quick easy thing isn't looking like that, cheers