easier to pull trans out too?

In my experience it has always been easier to pull the motor and tranny out together. I pulled just the motor once and played hell trying to get it to line up with the tranny when putting it back in. It is a little more work to pull both but I think in the long run it will be easier and less frustrating. As far as the oil pump no help there, never had one go. Knock on wood.
 
I have always found it easier to pull the tranny with it. I have tried replacing the oil pan by jacking the motor up but ended up pulling the motor anyway. I would just pull them out together..

Good luck!

-Smoke
 
I changed the pump and shaft in my 89 when the shaft failed and I did it in the car. I just removed the mount bolts and lifted the motor up with a cherry picker and stuck a big floor jack under the ballancer in case it decided to come down for some reason. Took about an hour and a half of I remember. Its not much fun but it is possible and faster than pulling the motor.