2002 v8 5.4L and trying to replace a seal to stop a transmission leak,but can't get the transmission range selector sensor off the side of the transmission .......any ideas?

 

Front pump flows lube to the cooler, from there it flows back into the pan via the return line. Lube is picked up in the pan and screened/filtered before it’s introduced into the unit/line systems. Is it still locked with OD canceled? Fine metal on the magnet, or suspended within the lube? What did the screen look like as far as debris?