The last time I replaced the pan gasket. I did it without unbolting the motor mounts. I loosened everything on the front end, so the front diff/axle could drop as low as possible and then jacket the front axle down with a screw jack, to get as much clearance as possible. Pan came out like a chinese puzzle, really a pain and putting the pan back in, without slipping the gasket or smearing the sealer was a real job.
The next time I do it, I´m gonna loosen the motor mounts, jack the motor as high as possible and shim it with wood blocks.
Somebody mentioned in a thread last summer, about removing the transfer mounting bolts and jacking the transmission up for clearance. Never tried it, but seems like it might be easier than the motor mounts. Where I was lacking in clearance, was at the front of the pan and the oil pump pick-up. Don´t really know if raising the transmission will help much.
Most times low oil pressure comes from main (crankshaft) bearing wear. A new oil pump may help some, but rarley cures the problem. The FSM gives the allowable clearance (measured with a feeler gauge), to determine the wear at the pump. Haven´t had an oil pump off for a long time, but I do remeber it being a real pain, for some reason that escapes me right now.
Before you start, check the oil filter mount and see if mount isn´t leaking down onto the pan lip. The front crank seal will also leak onto the pan lip and looks like a leaky pan gasket. Oil leaking out of the bell housing, is usually the rear main bearing seal and not the pan gasket.
