Driving a Bridgeport Knee

I am thinking about driving the knee with a pulley just below the
bearing on the Z-axis leadscrew. I would machine the leadscrew down
to accept the pulley. The motor would be mounted on the side of the
knee, and to get the timing belt out I would cut a rectangular slot in
the side of the knee.

Advantages:
Motor is out of the way.
I can still use the handle to move the knee via the bevel gears.
(can't leave the handle permanantly attached!)

Disadvantages:
Lose about 2 inches off the bottom of the knee travel
Changing belts would be a real pain in the you know what.
Permanantly alter the knee with hole (which does not bother me)


I think the motor will have no problem with clearances.
Does this sound good? or am I missing something.

Scott