4JG2 Oil Pan

[JBjunior]

So I understand that the lower oil pan is simply silicone gasket maker. My lower oil pan is currently fine. The larger oil pan that connects directly to the engine block appears to be sealed fine in most areas though I am confused about the area below the rear main seal. There is the rear main seal and then a half metal ring below that and it appears to have had silicone there before. That had been disturbed previously so I went back in to change the rear main seal I took a better look at it and want to get it repaired completely before I put it all back together.... thoughts?

[JBjunior]

Moving beyond the initial post, how is the oil pump removed? I have the lower oil pan removed and all of the bolts out of the upper sump. What else has to be removed in order to remove the upper sump from the block?