Ideally the trans will be standing on it's tail, then everything stays in there by gravity. I stick the tail into an old wheel so the m/s is off the floor. Then I pull a drawer open on my bench, and stand the trans up in the niche thus created with a little rear-lean so it can't fall outta there. I lever the pump-house outta there using two crow-foot bars under two bellhouse bolts threaded into the places designed to receive them. Easy peasy.
But you can see the pump-lugs by peering thru the seal. The rest of the pump should not be damaged. If it spins freely then I myself wouldn't bother to take it out. But then, I would have done a pressure test prior and probably not have taken the trans down at all. I have replaced that thrust bearing without even loosening the crank, just spun it into place. I'm a lazy sob,lol.
