Unbelievable!!!!!!!!

The verdict is in. Yes, you can remove the oil pan without lifting or removing the engine. I removed the center link in the steering and the oil pan dropped right out. That was the first good news. The second good news was the oil pump is fine. I removed it and it spins freely and pumps oil. The priming rod break was pretty clean. I mated up the pieces and there was one chunk missing. I found it in the oil pan and it fit perfectly in the break. I put the oil pump back on and left it at that for now. I will install the oil pan and prime the engine when I get a new priming rod. Overall, not a bad result for what could have been a PITA.

Jack