I highly recommend pulling the ENGINE instead of the trans. Get it all unbolted & then rent an engine hoist for a day or 2. When you get the engine out, replace the pan gasket & inspect the engine mounts, valve cover gaskets, freeze plugs, exhaust manifolds, & EGR pipe.
Before you pull the engine away from the trans, unbolt the torque converter & push it back into the trans. NEVER pull or install an engine with the TC attached.
BTW
Spray a few cans of Gunk Engine Brite on it & take it to a car wash a few days before you start working on it. You'll thank me later...