What transfer pump have you had luck with?

Use grease on one side of your housing gasket and it won't tear when you pull the front of the chunk off to drain the oil.
Yep, rtv or similar your gasket to the housing. Then a little gear oil on the front side and you can use the gasket over many times.
I’ve changed my center section 4-5 times in the past several years with the same gasket still being used.