1996 Suburban Oil Pan Removal/Oil Pump

My oil pan gasket has started to slowly leak. I want to replace it with a Fel-Pro one peice gasket. My sub is a 1996, with the 350, 4X4. Through reading the forums it looks like the best thing to do is unbolt the motor mounts and lift the engine till the tranny hits the tunnel. Any catch to this? Looks like the top fan shroud needs to be removed, and I need to ensure no hoses or wires are pinched or pulled. Anything else? Also is it a bad idea to replace the oil pump while I'm in there? Does it just unbolt and the new one bolts right up, or does it screw up the way the distributor sits? Would a 96' be a 3/4" O.D. pickup tube? Anything wrong with a high volume oil pump? Just want to make sure I'm not creating any problems while trying to fix some. Thanks!

If a 4W you may have to drop the front rear end to get to oil pan.
Take a good look from under side of it.

Oil pump just bolts on.
Will not affect the dist.
But put a new plastic coupler on the oil pump shaft if yours is plastic.
A new pickup tube may be best with a new oil pump.
A stock OEM type oil pump should pump all of the pressure you need.
MT

Read this thread by ducknut:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=894025

This is out of the actual 96 C/K GM Service Manual:
1- Remove Negative battery cable
2- Remove oil indicator
3- Raise vechicle and support with safety stands
4- Drain crankcase
5-Remove exhaust crossover pipe
6- Remove flywheel/converter inspection cover
7- Remove transmission oil cooler line retainer from the bracket (AT trans only)
8- Remove oil filter
9- Remove oil filter adaptor from lines
10- Remove oil pan bolts, nuts, and strut rods (if equipped)
11- Remove oil pan and gasket


Hope this helps

I appreciate the info guys. I crawled under there to take a look. It will be a tight fit but I shouldn't have to drop the front axle. I can see where lifting the engine just a few inches would help out alot. I guess I will just have to roll up my sleeves and get into to it to know for sure. Every method I have seen for oil pan removal on this vehical differs in some way or another. I think I'll tackle this one when its a little warmer outside but it will be great to get it done. Also I've been looking into oil pumps. I would love to just get a good AC-Delco one but it doesn't look like they sell such a thing. Any ideas where to get one? I'll have to check the dealer. The other choice is a stock volume Melling pump from AutoZone. I suppose that will work just fine. Thanks for the help and if you have any more ideas keep them coming.