Thought I'd close this thread with my solution, although it was weeks ago.
I had all the faces on the oil cooler block and filter block skimmed and fitted new gaskets. So far it's stayed leak free.
I took mine out alone, gearbox and transfer seperately with this kind of motorcycle lift, normal jack and a lot of wood blocks.
To put it in I bought an engine crane and used it from drivers side (left) thru the lever hole and put it in as one...
Bumping up an older thread rather than starting a new one and messing with future searches...
Is the VDO PM9261 and TYC630790 still the only non oem fans that fit and work?
Amazon.com has the TYC avail and two of them is ~150 USD shipped, but...